"I am very unhappy that Gov. Weld has chosen position on abortion and homosexuality that don't stand the test of history on social issues," said Jefferson, past-president of the National Right to Life Committee. "I wanted the first Republican governor in 20 years to achieve a distinguished record, but that can't happen with any policy that expends human lives."

Glenn Kelly, a Buchanan delegate from Falmouth, said that Weld's uncompromising persistence on the abortion issue is counterproductive to the Republican's main objective of unifying under President Bush.

"There was no reason for his back-door approach to reopen the debate for the platform [on Monday], and there's no reason for him to do it again in his speech," Kelly said. "Unity within the party when everyone leaves here on Thursday would be nice--I just hope were capable of doing it."

But Hicks, the state senator, said there is no possibility that one issue will prevent the party from rallying behind its candidate come November.

"We don't have to worry about this disagreement because we unified on so many other issues besides abortion," she said.

And in his speech Weld predicated the split on the abortion issue actually may help the Republicans because it demonstrates a diversity lacking in the Democratic Party.

"Disagreement is not unhealthy. Unlike the Democrats, George Bush and the Republican Party are not afraid of a little disagreement. My appearance before you tonight proves it," Weld said.

"We shouldn't let this issue divide us...because all of us agree that re-electing George Bush is critical to the future of the country," he said.

Weld's address to the convention also blasted Arkansas Gov. Clinton for his state's lax restrictions that let prisoners out early, and criticized Democrats in general for their fiscal policies.

"My platform in 1990 was 'tough on taxes, tough on crime.' Ladies and Gentlemen, Republican are both and the Democrats are neither," he said. "The Democrats' taxiing and spending habits remind me of that old definition of a baby: a huge appetite on the end, and no sense of responsibility on the other."

He said the Republican ideals he has used in rejuvenating the Massachusetts economy have finally started "digging ourselves out from the economic damage that the Democrats inflicted on our state."