Chairman Duane Oliver squeaked by with a re-election victory over challenger Randal Wallace early today, winning the battle by only four votes.

The win came after a contentious eight-hour party convention and several recounts. Wallace was ahead by one vote at midnight, only to lose in the final recount, 222 votes to 218. The final recount was completed about 1:45 a.m.

"A win is a win is a win," Oliver said.

It was a surreal ending to a hotly fought contest between Oliver and Wallace, his former supporter. Both sides traded insults and accusations in a contest that, as today's results show, evenly divided the party, the Grand Strand's most powerful political organization.

Oliver promised to begin "putting the party back together," after the yearlong battle waged between Oliver's supporters and those who oppose his leadership. Oliver's slight margin of victory shows how challenging it may be to restore unity to the party.

Wallace called his narrow defeat a "moral victory" and said he hopes it shows Oliver that his concerns were justified. Wallace is a Myrtle Beach City Councilman and a former Oliver supporter.

"He controlled every aspect of the process, and we still almost did it," he said.

Oliver ran on his accomplishments: a headquarters in Myrtle Square Mall, increased visibility and a healthy membership. He pointed to Monday's convention, which Oliver said was the biggest in the state, as proof.

"The record is pretty clear in Horry County," he said.

Wallace led a faction of Republicans who think Oliver has subverted the party to his personal goals and led through intimidation and deception.

Both sides say they hope to reconcile in time to work for Republican candidates in the 2004 elections. Oliver pledged to meet with Wallace soon to discuss Wallace's concerns.

The rift that split the party was on full display Monday for Gov. Mark Sanford and other officials, who attended the convention for brief appearances.

Wallace's supporters accused Oliver of manipulating the convention, but they were shouted down.

"How is this democratic?" asked former County Councilman John Kost, an opponent of Oliver's. In response, Kost was booed by Oliver's supporters.

At one point, Wallace supporter John Bonsignor told a group of Oliver supporters to "shut up," which elicited a series of boos.

Conway police stationed officers to oversee the convention and had to intervene in at least one confrontation.

Representatives from the state party were on hand to ensure the integrity of the election. But that didn't stop a lengthy debate about the selection of the credentials committee, which was to determine if any delegates were fraudulently added to the list.

In the end, no delegates were removed from the list, and 440 cast votes.

Members of Horry County legislative delegation counted and recounted the votes several times as members of both sides looked on.

Sanford, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and S.C. Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson made appearances before the vote. Each commented on the party feud but did not endorse a candidate.

"Is there a great value in the food fight going on tonight? Yes," Sanford said. "... Republicans like a good fight, cause that's when real leaders emerge."

But many local party members said they were fed up with the infighting.

"The bickering and the infighting have to end," said County Councilwoman Liz Gilland, a Republican. "You would think by now, we could choose to act like adults."

On the Web | For results of the early-morning recount, go to http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/