The Republican Platform Committee adopted language Tuesday opposing Internet gambling — a provision that had been stripped from the initial draft as part of an effort to broaden the party’s appeal.
The full 112-member platform committee acted on pleas that Internet gambling victimizes poor people and children.
“Internet gambling represents the most invasive and addictive form of gambling in our history,” said Kendal Unrah of Colorado, who sponsored the amendment.
The draft platform had been cut in half from nearly 100 pages to streamline a conservative message.
Dropping the opposition to gambling represented a temporary triumph for the Poker Players Alliance, a group that has lobbied to legalize and regulate Internet gambling. The million-member group has spent $1.2 million during the first half of 2008 and members have contributed more than $350,000 to candidates this election year.