COLUMBIA South Carolina Republican leaders say they are like a family and, like families, they sometimes fight.

The GOPs libertarian faction on Saturday played the role of the cousins tired of always sitting at the table outside the dining room, shouting protests during the S.C. Republican Party convention at Carolina Coliseum.

Their main targets were U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, whom they view as too willing to compromise on important issues, and state GOP chairman Chad Connelly, who they think could have prevented the court-ordered removal of Republican candidates from last years primary ballots over a paperwork glitch.

The mixed feelings of party faithful over former Gov. Mark Sanfords return to politics also were on display.

Sanford did not attend the convention, spending the day campaigning in the Lowcountry ahead of his Tuesday contest against Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch in the 1st District congressional special election. However, Sanfords campaign had a phone bank operating in the coliseum lobby that was sparsely attended, even after a plea for volunteers.

Gov. Nikki Haley did not mention Sanford, her one-time mentor, when she talked about the congressional race in her convention speech. Instead, Haley used the race to tout the states new voter ID law.

Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, said the 1st District race is a tossup an assessment in line with recent polls because some Republican voters, disaffected by Sanfords divorce and a trespassing allegation at his ex-wifes house, will stay away from the polls Tuesday.

He just wasnt the strongest candidate that the Republicans could have put up, said McConnell, adding that Sanford came back to politics too soon.

But Sanford received support from other party brass.

Connelly told the conventions 2,000 delegates that the S.C. GOP has spent $250,000 to aid Sanfords campaign.

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SC’s libertarian Republicans take aim at chairman, Graham