21.   Bush, who skipped his home state convention, wants the national party to have a more moderate platform while keeping its steadfast opposition to abortion.

22.   But Baptists have a decentralized structure, and their state conventions and local associations and congregations are all independent of each other.

23.   But both men are on the political trail, running for the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party, which held its state convention last weekend.

24.   But he said moderates such as Dilday are leading the state convention away from the conservative path of the national convention.

25.   But he was booed at the state Republican convention earlier this year when he mentioned abortion rights.

26.   But moderates never lost control of a few state conventions, as Baptist organizations are called, most notably the biggest one, the General Baptist Convention of Texas.

27.   But the aforementioned alternative conservative state convention is offering opposition.

28.   But the state convention gave the delegation leadership slot to then-state party Chairman Tom Pauken.

29.   Cindy McCain was chosen at a state convention over the weekend after Gov. Jane Hull stepped aside, stressing the need for party unity.

30.   County delegates go to a state convention to choose delegates that go on to the two national party conventions in the summer.