Colorado Republicans are heading to their national convention with their most conservative delegation in years, as supporters for Ron Paul and Rick Santorum masterminded a stunning upset in electing delegates.

At the state convention in Denver today, Paul forces easily were the most vocal, adding their candidate’s name at almost every opportunity. When Republicans sang “Hey, hey, hey, good-bye” to President Barack Obama, Paul backers changed the words to “Hey, hey, hey, Ron Paul.”

The momentum was painful for Mitt Romney supporters, who had assumed when Santorum dropped out of the presidential race this week they’d have a much easier time in winning Colorado’s delegate and alternate seats to the Republican National Convention in Tampa in August.

Instead, some of the Santorum’s supporters united with Paul’s backers to form the “Conservative Unity Slate” to win a slew of delegate slots. Four years ago, only one Paul supporter was elected to attend the national convention.

“This is a revolution,” said Florence Sebern of Denver, an “unpledged” delegate who was wearing a Paul pin. She was part of the slate.

Slate supporters said they wanted to send a message to Romney about the importance of sticking to conservative values.

More than 800 Republicans — easily double the number who sought to attend the RNC in 2008 — ran for the 33 elected delegate and 33 elected alternate slots.

At congressional assemblies Thursday and Friday, Republicans elected 21 delegates and 21 alternates. Thirteen of the 18 winning delegates elected Friday were on the Paul/Santorum unity slate.

Today, to the relief of Romey backers, eight of the 12 at-large delegate slots, and six of the 12 at-large alternate slots went to Romney supporters. Former Congressman Bob Beauprez and former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, both Romney supporters, were the top two vote getters.

What happened overnight?

Romney supporters realized they couldn’t dilute their vote and had to stick with their slate, although plenty of other Romney backers were running as delegates, said Attorney General John Suthers.

“The wake-up call was how much discipline you have to have when you have a slate,” said Suthers, a Romney delegate.

Hundreds of Republicans took to the stage and make 15-second pitches to try to get elected as a delegate. They sang, danced, whistled and even Tebowed to try to stand out.

“More pearls, less ties,” said Vikki Waith of El Paso County, who made a pitch for more women to be elected.

Earlier in the morning, surrogates spoke on behalf of Paul, Romney, Santorum and Newt Gingrich. Some argued that Romney is not the defacto nominee.

“This game is not over until August in Tampa,” said Michelle Morin of El Paso County, who spoke on behalf of Gingrich. “We need the best leader to defeat the left.”

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., who spoke on Romney’s behalf, urged Republicans to “get off the sidelines and into the arena.”

Matt Holdridge, the state director for Paul, read an e-mail from the candidate that began with “Wow!” in reference to the slate of supporters elected Friday.

In the race for at-large regent at the University of Colorado, Matt Arnold, best known for trying to unseat the state Supreme Court, got top ballot line over CU medical doctor Brian Davidson, who narrowly lost the race to a Democrat six years ago. Both made the ballot after their speeches today to the convention.

Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com