When New Iberian George Wright is in the Twin Cities this week to cast his vote for U.S. Sen. John McCain at the Republican National Convention, he won’t just be continuing a lifetime of activity in the Republican Party — he will be continuing a family legacy.

Wright’s great-grandfather, W.T. Insley, cast his vote in Republican conventions of 1904, 1908 and 1912.

Insley was born in 1835. Wright was born in 1935.

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“When I realized about that, I said, well, ‘I’m going to try to continue the lineage,’ ” said Wright.

Wright’s son Christopher, the family’s first registered Republican, will be accompanying him to the convention as a guest.

Wright began supporting his activity in the Republican Party in the early 1960s while attending the Univeristy of Southwest Louisiana — now the Univeristy of Louisiana at Lafayette — though, like the majority of Louisianians then, he was registered as a Democrat.

“If you weren’t a Democrat you couldn’t vote in those days,” said Wright.

Wright initially supported Fred Thompson, a former Republican candidate, for the nomination, but began to support McCain, R-Ariz., after it was clear he would be the party’s nominee.

A lifelong Catholic who was elected as part of the pro-life ticket, Wright said he believes McCain will appoint pro-life judges to the Supreme Court.

He also accurately predicted McCain’s vice-presidential pick — pro-life Alaska governor Sarah Palin — a week before Friday’s announcement.

Wright said he believes McCain will work well with the House of Representatives and the Senate, will support the military and is supportive of oil interests.

Wright also said McCain’s relationship with Gov. Bobby Jindal has already helped Louisiana in terms of national recognition, as well as perception about Louisiana being “turned around” and more receptive to business.

He also believes McCain’s tax policies would be more conducive to economic growth than U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and admires McCain’s experience as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

“I think that he’s a patriot and that he can lead,” he said. “I think he will bring stability to the country, and he’s proven himself already that he’ll work across the (party) lines.”

Louisiana Republican Party Communications Director Aaron Baer said as McCain did not receive 50 percent of the vote in the Republican parties, delegates are not “officially” pledged to him. However, a large number had pledged themselves individually, he said.

Baer said Republican members of Congress are not delegates, unlike in the Democratic convention.

Wright was elected as a potential delegate at a caucus in Lafayette. At the state convention, he became a full-fledged delegate.

The convention will be held Monday through Thursday in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.