GOP re-elects party chair
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The party's state central committee gave Carey a first-ballot victory Saturday during a gathering in Oakdale.
His challenger was Joe Repya, a war veteran and activist who had been critical of party leadership after the state GOP suffered significant election losses last November.
Carey acknowledged those losses but promised better results in 2008.
"In 2006, the DFL whacked us over the head with a 2 X 4," Carey told delegates. "While the causes for our loss originated in Washington, with your support I promise the battle for the majority begins here in this hall today. As your chairman, I promise to lead a united party back to victory with a 2 X 4 in our hands."
Earlier in the day, Gov. Tim Pawlenty urged delegates not to blame 2006 losses on state party leadership. He says Republicans nationwide were hit by a large tidal wave of discontent.
Carey says hosting next year's Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities should help the state party attract new members and money.
"The risk that we have is we take our eye off the ball of November 2008," he said. "And I've made it very clear to people that that is not an option. I don't want to have four fun days in September at the expense of losing in November. And we're going to stay focused on the real objective for 2008 which is first and foremost winning in November."
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