Texas Gov. Rick Perry has provoked boos at the state Republican Convention by repeating his support for U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst.
Perry said Thursday that the country needs more conservatives in Washington like his friend Dewhurst, who has been lieutenant governor since 2003.
That drew loud and sustained boos from supporters of Dewhurst's opponent, former state Solicitor General Ted Cruz. The reaction partially drowned out Perry's cries of "Texas works! Texas works!" as he continued his speech.
Dewhurst and Cruz meet in a runoff election July 31 for the Republican nomination to replacing retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Perry also repeatedly applauded the tea party in his convention speech. But many top tea party leaders across Texas and the U.S. are supporting Cruz.
Ron Paul says he's all for unity within the Republican Party -- but only if conservatives come together to defend the right principles.
Addressing about 2,000 raucous supporters at the Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth on Thursday, Paul asked, "Why shouldn't we all just unite behind the Constitution?"
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The Libertarian congressman from Lake Jackson and unsuccessful presidential candidate was asked to speak on party unity and fiscal responsibility during an event separate from the convention's main general session.
He called for auditing the U.S. Federal Reserve and ending American involvement in military conflicts overseas. He added of the GOP, "compromising, getting together to spend more money, is what our problem has been."
Paul suspended active campaigning for the White House last month. He is also retiring from Congress.
