Texas GOP prepares to kick off Fort Worth convention

By Anna M. Tinsley

atinsley@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH -- Mitt Romney may not be here, but the presumptive GOP presidential nominee was one of the few die-hard Republicans in Texas on Wednesday who were not heading to the state convention that kicks off today in Fort Worth.

Thousands of people, many of them decked out in red, white and blue, will descend on downtown for a convention designed to energize delegates, set party goals and unify behind Romney, not to mention possibly snag coveted delegate slots to the national convention in Tampa, Fla., in August.

"We'll start to see the people [today] ... who are here to have a good, patriotic, enjoyable time," said Chris Elam, the state party's communications director.

As many as 9,000 delegates and 9,000 alternates will head to the Fort Worth Convention Center for the three-day event, where an elite list of Republicans recognized statewide and nationally will speak. The theme of the gathering: "Taking Back Our Country."

The top goals are to support Romney and unify the party.

That may be easier said than done, as many say they expect internal struggles for control -- of everything from national delegate slots to party rules and the party platform -- among factions including establishment Republicans, Tea Party members and never-say-die supporters of presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson.

Paul supporters have said there may be fights over party rules to allow national delegates to support the presidential candidate of their choice rather than be bound by what Texans decided in the May 29 primary.

Efforts may also be made to alter the state party platform to incorporate more of Paul's beliefs, which include limited government, personal liberty and a balanced budget.

"This is a very good time to renew the party's energy -- and reform it," said Hector Medina, 30, a second-time delegate from San Antonio.

Coming up

Gov. Rick Perry is scheduled to kick off the convention around 10 a.m. today, likely speaking to the largest crowd since ending his own presidential bid in January. Attorney General Greg Abbott is also expected to address the crowd today.

And this afternoon, Paul is expected to speak to a crowd of thousands.

Among those scheduled to talk to delegates later this week are U.S. Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn of Texas and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, as well as Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, House Speaker Joe Straus, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples and Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.

Former presidential candidate Rick Santorum will headline Friday night's Gala Banquet, along with Johnson and Cornyn, which serves as a key fundraiser for the party.

Party officials said last month that the event would likely be closed to the media, but they recently announced that they "will be able to offer media access" to the banquet.

"Opening the gala to the press occurred once we confirmed with all the speakers that they were OK with that," Elam said.

Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator who campaigned hard in Texas but suspended his campaign in April, was among the first to agree, officials said.

Local residents interested in attending the convention must know a delegate and get a "guest" pass tied to that person.

Those wishing to attend the gala may buy a ticket, if any are left, officials have said.

'Thank you, Texas'

While the convention center and arena may be spilling over with Republicans, and elephants of all shapes and sizes, Romney -- who spoke at the 2008 GOP state convention in Houston on behalf of presidential nominee John McCain, who did not attend -- is not expected to appear.

The former Massachusetts governor did make a public appearance in Fort Worth on Tuesday and attended a fundraiser Wednesday morning at the home of Fort Worth's Kit Moncrief. But he headed to Houston and San Antonio for other events, hoping to pick up as much as $15 million for his campaign coffers during his brief stay in the state.

While in Fort Worth, he sent a strong shoutout to Texans who helped him clinch the GOP presidential nomination during last week's primary.

"Thank you, Texas, for kicking me over the line and helping me get the nomination," he said during Tuesday's public event at Southwest Office Systems.

"That was good news, and you guys worked hard to get me over that line."

Online: www.texasgop.org

Anna M. Tinsley, 817-390-7610

Twitter: @annatinsley

Looking for comments?