GOP gets its party on in St. Paul

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By Jennifer Haberkorn

Technically, it's the politics that will draw 45,000 or so people to Minneapolis and St. Paul next week for the Republican National Convention - the big speeches, the platform, the pep rally for the fall campaign.

But then, don't forget the parties - where drinks are poured, connections made and money changes hands in the Twin Cities' best venues.

There will be concerts with the Beach Boys and country singer LeAnn Rimes, parties with Republican themes such as Ronald Reagan and the party's "Young Guns," private dinners in fancy restaurants, glitzy cocktail receptions and even some celebrities.

Nearly 400 parties are planned for the weeks of the Democratic and Republican conventions, according to a list compiled by the Sunlight Foundation, a congressional watchdog group.

"If you are looking for a good time, the conventions are still a good bet - if you're a political insider," said Nancy Watzman, director of the Sunlight Foundation's Party Time project.

With about 100 known parties in Minneapolis and St. Paul over a five-day span, how is a delegate to keep them straight?

Well-connected attendees have scores of parties to sort through.

There are the lobbyist- and corporate-sponsored dinners and receptions, the delegate breakfasts and luncheons with party bigwigs, the large concerts sponsored by the Republican Governors Association and groups such as the Creative Coalition, and fashion events at the nearby Mall of America. Without an invite - or at least some begging - would-be partygoers probably won't make it through the door.

Convention-goers will see some differences this year, a result of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007. The law places heavy restrictions on lobbyist-sponsored parties for candidates seeking federal office.

In an effort to skirt the ban, lobbyist-sponsored parties now are advertised for an entire state delegation instead of held in honor of a specific member of Congress.

Following tradition, several country stars will have concerts during convention week. Miss Rimes and the Bellamy Brothers will be performing Monday night. AT&T is scheduled to host Gretchen Wilson, John Rich of Big & Rich and Cowboy Troy at a Texas Honky-Tonk.

A number of rock groups are slated to perform as well. Sammy Hagar, formerly of the band Van Halen, is scheduled to perform at a Southern delegation party on Sunday night. Styx, the Beach Boys, Smash Mouth, Big Head Todd and violinist Bobby Yang are on tap to perform at concerts during convention week.

While the number of Hollywood celebrities at the Republican gathering isn't expected to be as high as the number at the Democrats' just-concluded Denver do, the stars who will be in attendance can likely be found at events put on by the Creative Coalition, an arts charity. Headliners for the group's Thursday performance list include the Charlie Daniels Band, among others.

Tickets to any of the convention parties hosted by magazines - Vanity Fair, GQ or Conde Nast - are expected to be hard to get, too.

However, it's not all about celebrities. Lawmakers are hosting events, too.

"Our big event is Music at the Mill on Wednesday," said Republican Governors Association spokesman Chris Schrimpf. "We have some of the most fun and most informative events at the convention this year."

Music at the Mill will feature Capitol Offense, the band of former Arkansas governor and failed presidential contender Mike Huckabee, and country singer Clay Walker. If conventioneers might have to let out some frustration, they can participate in the event's lumberjack competition, featuring log-rolling, chain-saw- and ax-throwing, and tree-climbing.