By Mike Kaszuba

Standing off to the side of the state Republican convention, Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, tried to get a delegate Friday to switch his vote to Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer after Friday's first ballot.

"People are attracted to someone who has a passion," Limmer told the delegate "I think that's why you see more people [thinking] Emmer can pull more votes in November,

The delegate nodded in agreement. "Obviously, he's a hockey [guy]," the delegate said, referring to Emmer's passion for hockey.

Limmer continued. "Emmer's more attractive -- physically attractive," he said. "I just think Emmer's the guy for the moment."

The delegate, who is committed to another candidate, nodded in agreement again. "All right, well, you helped [me]," he told Limmer.

Said Limmer to the delegate: "After the first ballot, I'm going to come looking for you."

Later, Limmer added: "It seems there's some vacillation on the [Republican gubernatorial candidate] Seifert side."

He predicted that after the second or third ballot, there would be a switch of Seifert votes to Emmer. "That'll probably end this," he said.