TAMPA, Fla. — Texans who have rallied behind Maine’s contested Ron Paul delegates took their message outside the convention hall and onto the street on Thursday, hawking special T-shirts inspired by Maine’s fight and talking to passers-by.
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For $15, anyone could pick up a T-shirt in a variety of colors declaring “Texas Remembers the Alamo … and the Maine,” as well as four other states where skirmishes over Paul delegates played out before or at the Republican National Convention. Those representing the five states — Maine, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Oregon and Massachusetts — could snag one for $10, which one Texan said was basically at-cost.
The idea behind the shirts came to Lauren Landivar of Arlington, Texas, some time last Saturday while she was on her way to Tampa. A few hours later, Rob Hinojosa had come up with a design. And by the next day, members of Texas’ large and highly visible delegation were wearing the first version.
They’ve since printed about 180 of the shirts plus “Remember Maine 2012” stickers, typically worn on the front brim of the white cowboy hats that everyone from the Texas delegation has been sporting all week.
“We really support all of those states,” said Jorge E. Landivar, Lauren’s husband and a Texas delegate. “We think that they got the raw deal and we want to help them.”
NAVY VISIT TO MAINE CANCELED
U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud’s office says Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has canceled a visit to Maine scheduled for this weekend.
Mabus was to attend a ceremony Sunday commemorating the naming of the USNS Millinocket. Michaud’s office gave no reason for the cancellation Saturday, The Associated Press reported.
The Millinocket will be the third Joint High Speed Vessel built to carry personnel and equipment for the Navy, Army and Marines. It’s currently under construction at a shipyard on the Alabama coast.
This is the second ship named in honor of East Millinocket native Stephen W. Groves, a pilot who was killed during the infamous Battle of Midway during World War II. Groves was part of a fighter squadron that defended Navy ships against fierce Japanese attacks. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
Washington Bureau Chief Kevin Miller can be reaced at 317-6256 — cell or at: kmiller@mainetoday.com
On Twitter: @KevinMillerDC
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