TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney is now officially the Republican nominee for president.
Delegates at the Republican National Convention officially nominated the former Massachusetts governor in Tampa after conducting ceremonial votes Tuesday evening.
But the Tuesday session was not without its hiccups as a vocal contingent of Ron Paul’s supporters caused a stir early on in the resolution process by protesting party rules.
They objected to the seating of the Maine delegation, and to a rules change that could affect the next presidential cycle — possibly wresting power away from insurgent candidates like Paul, the Texas congressman who unsuccessfully ran for president this year.
At one point during the pro-Paul shouts, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus sternly asked for the protesters to stop chanting and demanded their respect for the speaker.
The convention adopted the new rules provision over the loud objections of hundreds who shouted “No!” when asked for a voice vote. The new rules would essentially allow candidates to select their delegates, which is usually left up to state parties after a primary.
Despite the initial discord, the nomination largely went forward with cheers for Romney.
Former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu nominated Romney before the vote.
“Mitt Romney is the right man at the right time and will be a great leader of our country,” he said to cheers and applause. “It is my honor to nominate Mitt Romney to the office of president of the United States.”
“Tonight we are all gathered here to put in motion the final page of our campaign to help America get to know them better and to appreciate why our nation needs them as our president and our first lady,” Sununu said.
Each state’s delegation formally announced their votes from the floor. Some delegations drew laughs with how they described their state before announcing their votes. “Three national football championships in the last three years!” the leader of the Alabama delegation said of her state.
The vote tally ended with Romney receiving 2,061 and the delegates dancing to “Shout” by The Isley Brothers with their “Mitt” signs waving.
Paul came in second place, but the official tally announced after voting concluded did not include the number of votes for Paul.
Romney is set to accept the nomination with a speech Thursday night.
The roll call vote came on the first full-day’s worth of convention business. Officials postponed speeches and business, including the roll call votes, scheduled for Monday because of threats from the impending landfall of Hurricane Isaac.