Tom Emmer won the Minnesota Republican Party's endorsement Friday afternoon to run for governor in November, prevailing over chief rival Marty Seifert.

GOP attorney general candidate R. Christopher Barden is regarded as a complete unknown by many at the GOP convention, and this bit of news may not help: According to Hennepin County property tax records, the Edina home of the Republican endorsee for AG is not homesteaded.

Movers and shakers at the MN GOP convention on Friday

Welcome to our live blog of the 2010 Minnesota state Republican convention. Stick with us today as we cover all the hoopla and fanfare and actual business of the GOP.

As best can be determined, there is only one pig at the GOP convention. "Taylor Swine" is supporting (perhaps unwittingly) state Rep. Tom Emmer.

We'll be live-blogging from the GOP convention at the Minneapolis Convention Center today. Look for coverage to kick in as we get closer to the gubernatorial endorsement contest. The convention convenes at 9 a.m. First ballot is expected around noon.

DFL Chair Melendez criticized the candidates endorsed tonight at the GOP state convention to run for secretary of state and attorney general. Both offices are currently held by DFLers.

Some GOP delegates still have a bad taste in their mouths over the controversial treatment of Ron Paul at the 2008 state convention. GOP Chairman Tony Sutton has vowed to make this year's convention more open.

Welcome to our live blog of the 2010 Minnesota state Republican convention. Stick with us today and tomorrow, as we cover all the hoopla and fanfare and actual business of the GOP.

As zero hour approaches, a few notes on key dynamics to watch in the Marty Seifert - Tom Emmer throwdown, which is expected to get supremely nasty on the floor.