Tom Webb: Knight Ridder Election 2004

Minnesota GOP in NYC

The Republican National Convention has begun, and on Day One, a handful of Minnesota Republicans are getting a moment in the sun.

Eric Hoplin, president of the College Republicans and a native of Detroit Lakes, is scheduled to speak at about 1:25 p.m. Minnesota time.

U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman will be delivering Minnesota's vote tonight, as part of what convention organizers call "a rolling roll-call" of the states. Back in 2000, party chairman Ron Eibensteiner delivered the votes, and drew a bit of flak for calling Minnesota the "land of 10,000 lakes and one goofy governor." (Eibensteiner didn't seem to much mind missing his fame this time around, although he did muse about what praise he might have given the governor this time, since it's now Republican Tim Pawlenty.)

At tonight's opening session, Joe Repya of Eagan will lead the delegates in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Finally, two longtime Minnesota GOP dignitaries were cited in the memorial roll-call since the last convention. Harold Stassen, a onetime governor of Minnesota (who was later known for his frequent presidential attempts) died in 2001; Clark MacGregor, a former congressman and GOP fixture, died in 2003.

posted at # 11:41 AM