SOURCE:
CNNURL:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/18/politics/rnc-procedural-votes-rules-committee/By Tal Kopan and Tom LoBianco, CNN
Cleveland (CNN)Loud cries of protest broke out on the floor of the Republican National Convention Monday after GOP officials dismissed a last-ditch effort by anti-Donald Trump groups to force an embarrassing protest vote against the RNC and the presumptive presidential nominee.
A group of anti-Trump delegates submitted signatures to try to force a vote on the rules of the convention -- a procedure normally done quietly at the start of each convention.
The rules were adopted by voice vote shortly after 4 p.m., then after frantic protests, a second voice vote was taken as Trump opponents shouted repeatedly for a roll call vote. The convention chairman then said there were not enough signatures to force the roll call.
Opponents of the rules package were backed by Ted Cruz allies including Virginia's Ken Cuccinelli and Utah Sen. Mike Lee. They have been fighting to change the procedures for the 2020 presidential election, including trying to close primaries and caucuses from non-Republicans. Such a move would presumably help a party favorite like Cruz, who lose to the outsider Trump this year.
Lee told CNN's Dana Bash the protest wasn't about sour grapes.
"No, absolutely not, this is about the rules of the convention," Lee said, as protesters shouted around him. "This is about the future of the party... This is not about Donald Trump, this is about having a good, fair rules process.
"We are always looking, as conservatives, to make sure that our rules are good to make sure we have good candidates in the future. I would like to have conservative candidates in the future. This is not about this year, it's not about any one year," he said.
Lee said the fight doesn't demonstrate the party is divided.
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