While skepticism or outright animosity toward Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and his backers runs deep for many John McCain loyalists, Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen harbors no such feelings.

On the contrary, Pullen appeared with the sole remaining challenger to Sen. John McCain's presidential nomination at an event in Phoenix last night. Though this has privately rankled some Arizona Republicans who perceive disloyalty toward Sen. McCain in the appearance - especially in light of Pullen and McCain's spotty and often tempestuous relationship - both the party and the Paul campaign say it was simply a show of Republican solidarity, rather than a sly rebuke to the presumptive nominee.

According to Tony Reinhard, spokesman for the Arizona GOP, "It was a party-building event. Chairman Pullen was invited to speak to Republicans, with a Republican presidential candidate, and he accepted."

Andre Campos, who runs Rep. Paul's Arizona campaign, concurred.

"It wasn't an intentional thing where we said, 'Oh, let's invite Randy and make life miserable for him.' We thought it was respectful and proper to invite the Republican chairman to an event with a Republican candidate."

Campos said another reason for the invite was to show appreciation for Pullen's "fairness" during the Arizona Republican Convention.

"He has been nothing but fair and honest," said Campos.

Though the Arizona Republican Party ran a "Unity" slate of McCain-supporting delegates, and successfully encouraged the party officials at the convention to vote for it, Campos doesn't think it was handled inequitably, and said the failure to elect Paul delegates was the result of a fair contest.

"We took our lumps and we move on to fight another day."

[See "A Disciplined Convention," 5/10/08]

It is the aim of the fight, though, that has some concerned. The outspokenness of many Paul supporters, coupled with the near impossibility of Paul's selection as the Republican presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention, has spurred debate as to what the aim of Paul delegates truly is.

"Any candidate has those militant supporters," Campos said, stressing that he doesn't believe Paul delegates will do anything to disrupt the convention.

However, he indicated that the possibility exists, and part of the onus to prevent Paul delegates from doing anything that might embarrass McCain or the party is on McCain himself.

"Instead of saying 'Neener neener neener, you lost, too bad,' if Sen. McCain were to extend an olive branch and instead of marginalize us, bring us in," it might pacify Paul supporters who might be tempted to lash out. Campos suggested what he thinks is the best way to enfranchise Ron Paul backers.

The olive branch, said Campos, should be "offered through a speaking engagement at the convention. So far [of the other previous Republican candidates] we're the only ones who haven't been invited."