Romney to headline GOP convention; Democrats contemplate hosting two keynotes

Maine Republican caucus winner Mitt Romney will headline the state GOP convention May 2 and 3.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, has since dropped out of the presidential race and is now stumping for presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.

The Maine Republican caucus was a non-binding contest. Delegates elected at municipal caucuses are free to support whomever they choose at the state convention, where the national delegates will be selected.

Julie O’Brien, executive director of the state Republican Party, said the party tried to get McCain to come speak. Once his campaign said he couldn’t make it, but agreed to send a surrogate, the party requested Romney.

The Democrats have not settled on a keynote speaker yet, but party Executive Director Arden Manning said they are looking at “anybody and everybody.”

Both parties are busy right now organizing their state conventions, both to be held at the Augusta Civic Center. The Republican convention will be held May 2 and 3, and the Democratic convention will be held May 30 to June 1.

Given the nature of this year’s campaigns, both expect record turnouts.

THE REPUBLICANS: O’Brien said they expect 2,300 state delegates – double the size of the 2006 convention.

Republican candidates will make presentations, along with Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Also speaking at the GOP convention are: Roger Katz, Augusta mayor and Cal Thomas, journalist and Fox news contributor.

Delegates will split into county caucuses to determine the state’s 18 national delegates.

The party will have guest passes for non-delegates to attend the convention, and are also looking at ways to allow more people to attend Romney’s address.

O’Brien said the Ron Paul delegates will be out in full force. Even though McCain has clinched the nomination, the Paul campaign hopes to use the Maine convention to secure a few more national delegates.

The Paul campaign has paid for delegates to attend the convention, will have a booth there and and advertisements.

THE DEMOCRATS: Manning said that, given the nature of the Democratic race, the party is toying with having two keynote addresses.

Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama supporters have a vested interest in bringing in a good keynote speaker, Manning said. If the party ends up with one that has close ties to one of the campaigns, then they will reach out to the other campaign to bring in a speaker.

Manning said he doesn’t expect to get a solid commitment from anyone until right before the convention.

Also speaking at the Democratic convention will be Gov. John Baldacci, U.S. Reps. Tom Allen and Mike Michaud, and Democratic candidates for the national seats.

The Democratic delegates will also break into county caucuses to elect national delegates. Manning stressed that the projected 15 delegates for Obama and 9 delegates for Hillary is just that – a projection. The total number of national delegates will be determined by the number of state delegates who attend the convention.

There are 3,400 state delegate seats, all of which Manning expects to be filled.