Delegates at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, took the next step on Tuesday and officially chose Mitt Romney as their presidential nominee, CBS News reported.
As a representative from each state took to the microphone, they announced the number of delegates to vote in favor of Romney. The representative also noted the number of delegates for Republican opponent Rep. Ron Paul, R-Tex. Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, who were in the race and dropped out, released their delegates to Romney so their delegates were not announced.
It was the delegates from New Jersey who officially pushed Romney over the top, according to the CBS News report.
The report said that controversy erupted during the adoption of party rules Tuesday, when supporters of Paul objected and caused a commotion over a rules change and the rejection of a motion to seat Maine's delegates.
Half of the state's delegates, which unanimously backed Paul, were stripped of their seats and replaced with Romney supporters.
Chants of “let them sit” briefly erupted on the floor, but the presiding officers, including House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, ignored the protest and continued with proceedings. After Paul backers lost the voice vote over the Maine delegates and a rule change, applause erupted from the other delegates.
Paul Ryan, who was selected by Romney to run as his vice president, will deliver his acceptance speech on Wednesday night, CBS reported. Romney will accept his nomination Thursday evening.
The convention was to have opened on Monday, but Republicans canceled the first day because of the looming threat of Tropical Storm Isaac heading for Florida's coast.