GOP Gathers In Tulsa; Cheney Fundraiser Sold Out, Moved To Bigger Venue
Oklahoma Republican officials gather in Tulsa today for the party's state convention as a fundraiser featuring Vice President Dick Cheney is a sell-out and had to be moved to a larger venue as a result.
A reception at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tulsa begins at 4 p.m., followed by a banquet at 6 p.m. with Cheney as the special guest. The cost of the reception is $1,000; for the banquet only, the charge is $100 per person. All persons attending must be at the hotel at 4 p.m. for security reasons per the Secret Service, a party announcement stated.
The party convention on Saturday has drawn considerable interest as rumors have circulated that supporters of also-ran Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul would attempt to elect Paul delegates to the party's national convention in an attempt to thwart the nomination of John McCain. Reports from GOP conventions in other states fueled the fear Oklahoma could be another target. Some Paul supporters said that's not the case, but party insiders say the McCain campaign became concerned about the rumors and sent field workers here to "get a handle" on the situation. Paul himself headed such an effort in Nevada, as the Reno Gazette-Journal reported: "After a super-majority of Ron Paul supporters captured control of the Republican state convention Saturday, state party officials abruptly canceled the event without electing delegates to the national convention. Early in the day, state delegates supporting Paul's continued pursuit of the Republican nomination voted through a rules change that forced the state party to abandon its preset ballot of potential national convention delegates and open up the race to the rest of the state delegates. The vote followed a rousing speech by Paul of Texas, who said his presidential campaign will continue as long as he has support."
A reception at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tulsa begins at 4 p.m., followed by a banquet at 6 p.m. with Cheney as the special guest. The cost of the reception is $1,000; for the banquet only, the charge is $100 per person. All persons attending must be at the hotel at 4 p.m. for security reasons per the Secret Service, a party announcement stated.
The party convention on Saturday has drawn considerable interest as rumors have circulated that supporters of also-ran Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul would attempt to elect Paul delegates to the party's national convention in an attempt to thwart the nomination of John McCain. Reports from GOP conventions in other states fueled the fear Oklahoma could be another target. Some Paul supporters said that's not the case, but party insiders say the McCain campaign became concerned about the rumors and sent field workers here to "get a handle" on the situation. Paul himself headed such an effort in Nevada, as the Reno Gazette-Journal reported: "After a super-majority of Ron Paul supporters captured control of the Republican state convention Saturday, state party officials abruptly canceled the event without electing delegates to the national convention. Early in the day, state delegates supporting Paul's continued pursuit of the Republican nomination voted through a rules change that forced the state party to abandon its preset ballot of potential national convention delegates and open up the race to the rest of the state delegates. The vote followed a rousing speech by Paul of Texas, who said his presidential campaign will continue as long as he has support."
Labels: Dick Cheney, Republican State Convention, Ron Paul
posted by Mike McCarville @ 11:01 AM
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