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PHOENIX — More than 1,100 GOP activists will gather today at the Arizona Republican Convention in Mesa to pick delegates to the party's national convention.

Even though some conservative critics of presumptive GOP nominee John McCain are running for delegate posts, key party activists predicted a smooth gathering where Republicans of all stripes will stand behind the Arizona senator.

Delegate candidates had to agree that they would vote for McCain on the first ballot at the national convention in September in St. Paul, Minn.

"I certainly hope that there's not any dissent," said Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer, a longtime McCain supporter who is running to become a delegate to the national convention. "There is a possibility that there are some people there who are not supporters of Mr. McCain, but I hope they behave well."

McCain, who isn't scheduled to attend the state GOP convention, has had a difficult relationship with a small but vocal group of Arizona conservatives who are turned off by his record on immigration, campaign finance and other issues.

Rob Haney, a GOP activist and one of McCain's most prominent critics in Arizona, said he was unsure whether fellow critics will get elected as national delegates, but he believes their showing will not be acrimonious.

"If McCain showed up and said, 'Everyone stand up,' I think there may be people sitting in their seats. I don't think there'd be any booing," said Haney, who isn't running for a national delegate spot.

Though McCain critics elected as delegates would be required to vote for him at the national convention, they could voice their displeasure with his views as the party shapes its platform, said Haney, chairman of the Republican legislative district where the senator lives.

A month ago, Republican activists in that district rejected nearly all the names the McCain campaign submitted as delegate candidates.

Party officials in Arizona said they were confident their convention wouldn't end as Nevada's did last month, when GOP leaders were outmaneuvered by supporters of Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and abruptly shut down their gathering.

Supporters of Paul managed to get a rule change positioning them for more national delegate slots than expected.

A new convention date has not yet been set.

Brett Mecum, political director for the Arizona Republican Party, said the GOP's rules for picking delegates offer an opportunity for all to represent the state at the national convention.

"At the end of the day, I think you will see 100 percent of the delegates will be behind McCain's candidacy," Mecum said.

Mecum said scheduling conflicts are expected to keep McCain from attending the state gathering, whose speakers will include U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl and U.S. Rep. John Shadegg.

In all, Arizona will send 53 delegates to the national convention.

With three senior party officials already serving as delegates, Republican activists will pick 50 other delegates, plus another 50 people who will serve as backups.