Grand Rapids, Mich. ? The tension between the Republican presidential camps – especially between supporters of Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney – was clear as nearly 3,000 Republican activists met Saturday for their state convention.

The delegates listened enthusiastically to speeches by Romney and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback as well as the surrogates speaking for McCain and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

But state GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis tried to dampen the competition between the candidates’ supporters after he was re-elected to a second two-year term.

“I’m asking you to get involved, fight the fight,” he said, then warned: “Get along with one another.”

Michigan is critical for Romney, who hopes to build on his ties to his native state, where his father, George, was governor from 1963-69.

McCain is hoping for a second surge of the popularity that propelled him to a 2000 win over then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush in the Michigan GOP primary.

Romney reminded the crowd that he grew up sharing the Automotive News each morning with his dad, who headed American Motors Corp. before he became governor.

He said his father brought many of the lessons he learned from business to the governorship.

“He got Michigan moving again,” Romney said, before running through his stands opposing abortion, favoring the restriction of marriage to a man and a woman and backing controls on illegal immigration. “It’s time for Republican principles to come back to Michigan again.”

Conservative Brownback

Brownback, who is running as the conservative heart of the party but opposes President Bush’s decision to send 21,000 more troops to Iraq, got a warm reception with his pledges to protect life and the traditional family.

He also called for wiping out cancer in 10 years and for putting more resources into alternative energy.

“Michigan is going to be a key state in getting that done,” he said, noting its efforts to encourage the production of ethanol and biodiesel.

Presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney stages a news conference before speaking to Michigan Republicans on Saturday during the Michigan GOP Convention in Grand Rapids. Tension between the presidential camps of Romney and Arizona Sen. John McCain was obvious at the convention.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a national co-chairman of McCain’s campaign, spoke on behalf of the Arizona senator.

He said Republicans can’t win swing states like Michigan and Minnesota by appealing just to Republican voters, and said McCain already has proven he can pull in independents.

“You’ve got to have a candidate who’s not only true to our party and principles, but who can win the election,” he said. “In 2008, if we’re going to be the successful party, we have to win in states like Michigan. … The Upper Midwest is going to be critical.”

Military experience

Pawlenty said McCain is the only GOP candidate who brings experience in the military and domestic and foreign affairs to the race.

But U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, speaking on Giuliani’s behalf, said Giuliani showed on the 2001 day when terrorists struck his city and in the days and weeks afterward that he has what it takes to keep the country safe in a dangerous world.

Americans “trust his judgment,” the congresswoman from Macomb County’s Harrison Township said. “Nobody will ever forget his calm and determined leadership.”

She acknowledged that not everyone would be happy with Giuliani’s support for abortion rights but said he reduced crime significantly, tackled welfare reform and reduced taxes 23 times while he was mayor.

“That is conservative leadership,” she said, adding, “If we need to have a candidate we agree with 100 percent … there is no such person.”

Presidential candidate Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., talks Saturday during the Michigan GOP Convention. He is the most conservative Republican candidate.

Romney, McCain lead

McCain backers were successful in getting their candidate, Matt Hall, elected youth chairman over Trevor Pittsley, who had the backing of Anuzis and the anti-McCain forces. It was a narrow win, however, with Hall getting only 14 more votes in a 998-984 victory.

They were less successful in the 1st Congressional District, where their candidate lost to Joel Westrom, of Marquette.

Westrom said Republicans in the sprawling district that covers the northern Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula are still making up their minds about their presidential choices. But Romney and McCain have the edge at this point.

“Romney has a lead because of his Michigan heritage,” Westrom said, and McCain has visited the district a lot.