Ron Paul's political event moves to larger venue

Supporters of maverick Rep. Ron Paul who are organizing a rally as an alternative to the Republican National Convention are moving their crosstown event to a larger venue.

The Rally for the Republic featuring Paul — the Texas conservative failed in his bid to win the GOP nomination for president — is scheduled for Minneapolis' Target Center, home of basketball's Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Target Center can accommodate at least 15,000 people for such an event. Planners for the Paul event had originally considered a college basketball arena that seats about 11,000 people.

Paul is scheduled to speak during the 10-hour rally on Sept. 2, local coordinator Marianne Stebbins said. That's the second day of the four-day GOP convention.

''We have two different goals,'' Stebbins said Tuesday. ''They're there for their political convention to nominate their candidate. We're supplementing it. Liberty is getting short shrift right now. We're giving our people a place to go for those days.''

The Republican National Convention is set for Sept. 1-4 at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center and is expected to culminate with John McCain's nomination.

Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey said, ''The real action is going to be at the Xcel Center where one of the people who does have a chance to be president is going to be speaking and rallying the troops. When people come to St. Paul in September, they're not going to be focused on Ron Paul.''