Ron Paul’s Revolution Convention
Politico and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report that Ron Paul is booking the U of M's Williams Arena for a "mini-convention" on September 2nd - the same time as the Republican National Convention. A campaign spokesman for Ron Paul did not return calls.
A spokesman for Ron Paul said they're booking Williams Arena for a "Revolution Convention" on September 2nd - the same time as the Republican National Convention.
Paul campaign spokesman Jesse Benton said that they're holding the rally to send a message to the GOP.
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"This rally, this revolution convention, is about being positive and it's about being active and being respectful and yet at the same time really sending a powerful message to the Republican Party that we strayed from our roots and our traditions and we need to get back to being the party of limited government."
An official with the University of Minnesota said Paul did place a hold on the arena for that day. He said a final contract has not yet been finalized.
The event coincides with the Republican National Convention and is just two days before John McCain accepts the GOP nomination for president. Ron Paul supporters have been urging GOP officials to give Paul a prime time speaking slot at the convention. Minnesota Republican Party Chair Ron Carey said he wasn't too concerned about the Paul rally.
"Most of his supporters will realize at the end of the day that it is going to be either John McCain or Barack Obama as president and the vast vast majority of Ron Paul supporters will be there for John McCain on November 4th. That's really all that matters at this point but we aren't going to lose a lot of time with this distraction. It's a good publicity event for Ron Paul and he's certainly entitled to do that if he wishes"
Carey added that the longer it takes for Republicans to unite behind McCain the greater the chance Barack Obama will be elected. Paul was not invited to speak in St. Paul because he refuses to endorse McCain, according to his campaign.