Paulites still resent 2008 GOP convention, but GOP leadership vows more inclusive process

The 2008 GOP state convention in Rochester was a rough affair in which the party leadership was assailed by backers of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul.

The libertarian presidential candidate from Texas developed an ardent bunch of followers in Minnesota. Paul, however, was denied access to the convention floor.

Some delegates attending this weekend’s GOP convention haven’t forgotten.

Two young delegates from the northern part of the 7^th Congressional District are still fuming. They have bad memories of the operatives wearing red baseball hats working in Rochester for eventual GOP presidential nominee John McCain.

“We have a bad taste in our mouth from that convention. We didn’t like being told what to do by jackasses in red hats,” one of the delegates said as he walked into the Minneapolis Convention Center tonight.

Under the new leadership of Chairman Tony Sutton, the GOP has tried to make the convention more open. The biggest change from two years ago is a lower bar to nominate candidates. Candidates need signatures from 41 delegates, or about 2 percent of the convention delegates, to get nominated. That a lower bar to clear than the complex process of proving credentials in the past.