Shamie Urges GOP Hopefuls To Back Supermajority Winner

BOSTON--Republican Party Chair Ray Shamie said that if one candidate for governor wins a so-called "supermajority" of support at the party convention this weekend, the other candidates should drop out of the race and support him.

And Shamie hinted that even if one candidate does not reach the 15 percent lead over the second-place finisher to achieve the supermajority the second-place candidate should consider dropping out.

'Close Ranks'

"I would advise all candidates to do what I advised in the beginning--and why we established a major convention early in March--to get behind the winners, close ranks, support those winners, and then challenge the Democrats for eight months," Shamie said.

According to a recent poll of party delegates, House Minority Leader Steven D. Pierce is leading in the fight for party delegates. Former U.S. Attorney William F. Weld '66 is also a frontrunner. Paul Cronin, who entered the race yesterday, is trailing behind.

Delegates votes on candidates at the party's convention Saturday.

Meanwhile, Republican legislators supportive of Pierce slammed Weld for comments he made over the weekend about his rival. The legislators accused Weld of name calling, and one legislator said Pierce "does not use McCarthy-like tactics."

Weld said Pierce was unelectable because of what he called his extreme views on abortion and because he filed several years worth of tax returns late.

Shamie made his comments during a press conference to announce the Republican Party's new slogan: "Common Sense for the Commonwealth." The party also unveiled a new radio advertisement, narrated by former Celtics basketball star Dave Cowens, urging people to register with the Republican party.