First Essex and Middlesex, microphone number three, are you ready now?
The brass and percussion sections in the back of the American Legion Post No. 24 Band from Canton huddled around a cache of "Daly Delights," packages of peanuts, M&Ms and Granola Bars handed out by volunteers working for U.S. hopeful Daniel W. Daly '65, who had won the party's endorsement by the end of the day.
After U.S. Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia) strode from the podium after his keynote address to the convention, the blue and gold uniformed band members belted out "Dixie" for the Southern Republican.
Madame Secretary, we hate to hold up the convention, but if you'd hold on for a minute or two... all right, First Essex and Middlesex reports 94: Steve Pierce, 51: Paul Cronin and 75 for Bill Weld.
Former U.S. Rep. Paul W. Cronin, wearing the green tie and matching carnation which are hallmarks of his campaign, strode briskly through the aisles, stopping now and then to greet supporters and well-wishers.
"Helluva good campaign Paul," a burly man in a dark suit said, slapping the candidate on the back.
"My mother used to tell us when we were kids, `You try your best,'" said Cronin, who did not receive the 15 percent delegate vote he needed to stay on the Republican ballot. "And we've tried our best."
Hampden and Hampshire report Pierce: 34, two for Cronin and three for Weld.
Harry J. Wilson '93, a Pierce volunteer and member of the Harvard Republican Club, joined other Harvard students and Young Republicans across the state in demonstrating for their candidates at the convention rallies.
"It wasn't even work," he said. "I had three hours sleep last night--18 hours in the last four days--it feels great."
Harvard sophomore Jeremy C. Severeid paced the convention floor, plastered with Weld stickers, a Weld T-shirt and a two-foot tall hat constructed from a Weld poster.
"I want to get involved because I think I can help," Severeid said. "There are so many people at Harvard who scream about democracy and better government but sit on their asses come election time. I have no respect for those people."
Any district that would like to be polled, please deliver your ballots to the RFC, they will be taken directly to the rostrum for tallying.
Eager for the results, the crowd begins to chant, "NO MORE POLLS! NO MORE POLLS!" At 3:17, Pierce supporters begin to hand out confetti. The sound of the gavel banging against the podium resounds throughout the convention hall. The chair begins to speak.
Total votes cast: 5080, Steven Pierce: 2672 or 52.6 percent, Paul Cronin: 563 or 11.1 percent, and Bill Weld: 1845 or 36.3 percent...That's a supermajority. Steven Pierce has been nominated and he has received a supermajority!