After the large crowd that surrounded the stage when Rep. Tom Emmer was nominated for governor, former Rep. Bill Haas talked to delegates about his own gubernatorial campaign. He stood alone on the stage, and not a single person was within 20 feet of him.

But Haas drew only a smattering of applause. "We need to simplify and streamline our tax system," he said, listing the reforms he would bring as governor. Haas promised to eliminate paper income tax filing forms, and direct taxpayers to electronic filing.