Dana Ferguson

dferguson@argusleader.com

In a face palm of protest, one South Dakota Republican said with his body language what many GOP members wanted to Tuesday night.

Amid cheers from South Dakota delegates announcing that the state's 29 delegates would support Republican nominee Donald Trump, state Rep. Isaac Latterell, R-Tea, rolled his eyes and clamped his hand over his face.

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While he was out of the spotlight, television stations and media livestreams still captured Latterell making the gesture a few feet behind Pam Roberts, South Dakota Republican Party Chairwoman.

“I just think that it’s a sad day for the Republican party," Latterell said Tuesday night in a phone interview. "I don’t think that the candidate that was chosen has a chance of winning the election, or being different than the other nominee."

He also said the motion was his only way to "protest what is going on in the corrupt RNC." Latterell said he voted for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the state's primary election.

Latterell isn't alone in rejecting the party's nominee. Delegates from half a dozen states tried to unbind their votes to oppose the business mogul Monday.

The efforts were unsuccessful and upon the announcement that Trump clinched the 1,237 delegates he needed to win the party's nomination, many celebrated as screens in the Cleveland arena displayed the phrase "Over the Top."

Follow Dana Ferguson on Twitter @bydanaferguson, call (605) 370-2493 or email dferguson@argusleader.com

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