HELENA -- Saturday was Denny Rehberg's day at the GOP convention here.

The congressman headlined that morning, telling Republicans in a speech to ''stand united.'' Later, his chief of staff, Erik Iverson, was elected chairman of the Montana Republican Party.

Rehberg, the top elected Republican in the state, told a story about how the state GOP party fell prey to warring factions nearly 40 years ago -- something that took years to recover from.

''I don't want to see that happen in our party,'' Rehberg said. ''We have to stick together.''

In a speech quoting Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, Rehberg said Republicans need to coalesce around a vision of lower taxes, less bureaucracy and a smarter approach to delivering government programs.

He said the 2008 election will come down to wooing independents.

''What we need to do is convince the unaligned that the Republican message is the message of the future,'' he said.

Rehberg ribbed former House Majority Michael Lange -- considering a run at Schweitzer or U.S. Sen. Max Baucus -- for his attack earlier this year on the governor that rattled the political community for its R-rated content. But he said the core message -- that Schweitzer is perceived as a bully -- was not wrong.

Iverson energized the audience in a speech that went after Democrats by saying they have failed to lead the state and squandered its billion-dollar surplus. He promised GOP wins in 2008.

''Montanans want and deserve tax relief,'' Iverson said. ''Republicans will deliver tax relief to the state of Montana.''

He said Helena politics have ''become too mean spirited.''

''It's terribly unfortunate for the state of Montana that our governor is perceived, and has been called, a bully by both Democrats and Republicans,'' Iverson said. ''It is time to end the era of confrontation in Helena.''

Iverson, who was unchallenged for the position, has promised to modernize the operation, increase resources for local candidates, challenge the Democrats in areas where they have made gains and expand the Republican Party.

The 33-year-old veteran political operative has worked for Rehberg and former U.S. Rep. Rick Hill after getting a law degree. He also is credited with helping the flagging campaign of former U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns with a tighter message late in the race that drew the campaign closer to eventual winner Jon Tester.

''It's exciting to me to see young people that are so vibrant, so talented, so energetic, so bright, willing to put themselves before us and work for us, with us,'' said state Sen. Greg Barkus, R-Kalispell.

Liane Johnson, of Cut Bank, was selected as Iverson's vice chairwoman. She runs Liane Johnson Farms and is an enrolled Blackfeet and Haida Indian.