COLUMBIA -- On a day when the state Republican Party sought to showcase its candidates and tout its dominance, resentments involving ethnicity and big money flared Saturday on its convention floor and dais.

Easley homebuilder Jeff Willis, a candidate for state treasurer, used his speaking time to criticize Greg Ryberg's recently disclosed donation of $2 million in personal funds to his treasurer's campaign. That triggered an encounter with Ryberg's wife, Betty, when he finished.

State Rep. Gloria Haskins of Greenville, a native of Colombia, told The Greenville News that she had been excluded from presenting the annual award named for her late husband "because there's an immigration debate and I'm a face of Hispanics in the Republican Party. It's too contentious and our party's not ready to receive the Hispanic input."

State GOP Chairman Katon Dawson said, "That has nothing to do with the award. That is bizarre to interject that into the debate. We had the largest increase ever" in minorities since he became chairman, Dawson said.

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Haskins was on the convention floor with her four sons when Dawson presented the Terry Haskins Award to U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint of Greenville.

It was the first time in the five-year history of the award that she hasn't been the presenter, Haskins said. Her late husband was House speaker pro tempore when he died in 2000. She later won the balance of his term and has been re-elected since.

Dawson said when he looked out at the crowd of 600 delegates and guests, some seated, some standing, others milling about, he didn't see her.

"It was a complete oversight, an honest mistake," he said. "If there's any subplot here, it would have to come from someplace else."

DeMint is part of a Senate fight that has divided the GOP.

He and fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of Seneca are on opposite sides of stalled legislation to deal with 12 million undocumented immigrants, most of them Hispanic. DeMint, breaking with Senate GOP leaders, said he supports legal immigration and guest worker permits but opposes their plan for "rewarding" undocumented immigrants with immediate legal status.

Although Haskins said DeMint was an appropriate selection because "he mirrors my husband's legacy," she recommended it go to Reggie Lloyd, the new U.S. attorney for South Carolina and the first black person to hold the office.

"I was called and told, 'No doing.' I was really, really disappointed because one of the legacies of my husband, and that I have continued, was to reach out to all segments," Haskins said. None of her past recommendations has been accepted she said. Elected onlyDawson said that the award was created to honor an elected official, and the selection is made by a committee. Lloyd's federal post is appointive and federal law would preclude his acceptance of a political award.

He said the spat is rooted in the immigration debate and has nothing to do with the award.

"She should have been the person to do it," said Sam Cerezo, a delegate and former state GOP officer. "It was a mistake, not a slap at Hispanics, but they didn't look good doing what they did."

Pointing to Cerezo, Haskins said, "We were delegates to the national convention because they need us as token Hispanics."

Dawson said Haskins and Cerezo were elected by state convention delegates in 2004, "just like anyone else. No one is hand-chosen. I find this disappointing and sad and the furthest thing from the truth."

After speaking, Willis, who has given his own campaign $100,000, said in an interview that "it's shameful that (Ryberg) would feel that it's necessary to donate" $2 million. I don't think that office should be for sale."

Ryberg could not be reached for comment.

Willis' $2 millionWillis announced that he would form a nonprofit organization to raise $2 million to provide housing for "worthy, needy veterans."

He said Betty Ryberg was "passionate" in telling him that she felt his remarks were unfair to her husband, a state senator from Aiken.

"I didn't mean this as a personal affront to Sen. Ryberg," Willis said. "She might have misunderstood that."

Gov. Mark Sanford received a strong welcome from delegates who filled only half the convention center's main hall.

His primary opponent and frequent critic, Prosperity physician Oscar Lovelace, received only a scattering of applause when he was introduced and less when he finished his brief remarks.

The governor's campaign handlers have shrugged off Lovelace's repeated calls for debates, saying Sanford might debate, but only in the narrow window between the early June adjournment of the General Assembly and the June 13 primary.

Sitting with the Berkeley County delegation, Sanford said, "I feel comfortable with it. There are only so many hours in a day." Debate '50-50'Sanford, who debated primary, runoff and general election opponents numerous times as a candidate in 2002, said, "It's 50-50," but cited what he called a "legitimate debate" within his campaign over debating Lovelace who has vowed not to support Sanford if he loses.

But Sanford doesn't have universal support for his position.

U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis of Travelers Rest said Sanford should go ahead "because incumbents have an obligation to debate challengers -- and that applies to me, too."

Rick Beltram, the Spartanburg GOP chairman, agreed, saying it's always a plus to get ideas before the voters.

However, questioning the viability of the politically unknown Lovelace, DeMint said, "That's always been the test and it's my understanding he does not meet it."

There was other political theater.

Before the convention began, an unidentified person in a rhinoceros suit darted through the crowd of arriving delegates and guests bearing a sign, "RINOS for Staton," a reference to William Staton, one of several Republican candidates for state education superintendent.

In Republican parlance, RINO stands for Republican in Name Only. Staton has been criticized for Democratic ties, but has rejected the RINO appellation.

James Aldridge of Anderson walked among delegates with a red and white sign, calling upon DeMint and fellow U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham to "Stop illegal immigration or resign."