Backers of GOP presidential contender Ron Paul came up short Saturday in their attempt to elect their slate of delegates to the national convention during a raucous state convention — hindered by fights over rules and a physical altercation between opposing delegates.

Backers of Paul, a Texas congressman, booed Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a onetime 2012 GOP presidential contender, when both encouraged the approximately 1,400 delegates to support the presumed Republican Party presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Fallin endorsed Romney last week when the former Massachusetts governor visited Oklahoma; about 750 attended a private fundraiser in Oklahoma City and contributed about $2 million to his campaign, organizers said.

Paul supporters, who numbered about 600 and made up about 40 percent of the convention, used various parliamentary procedures to contest rules.