Robertson Backers Assail Hawaii GOP for Delaying Poll
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HONOLULU — The Hawaii Republican Party’s decision to postpone its presidential straw poll drew fire today from supporters of Pat Robertson who said it was aimed at heading off a victory by the former television evangelist.
The Jan. 27 vote, billed as one of the first tests for GOP presidential hopefuls, was delayed indefinitely by the state party’s 10-member executive committee after a four-hour closed meeting Thursday night. Members said after the hastily arranged meeting that the rules governing the scheduled caucuses were confusing and subject to challenge.
The decision was condemned by supporters of Robertson, whose campaign had signed up thousands of new party members to take part in the balloting. Robertson’s Hawaii co-chairman, state Rep. Hal Jones, said he might consider a legal challenge to the decision.
Jones said the delay was engineered by Robertson opponents. “They’re afraid we would over-influence the party,” Jones said.
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