Each state’s Republican Party will be the best source of information about who will be attending the convention as delegates. Contact information for each state's Republican Party can be found here.

The Committee on Arrangements only utilizes housing for attendees in official 2008 Republican National Convention Hotels and does not facilitate the rental of private homes during convention week. Residents interested in making their homes available for rent should consider a listing on an Internet site or in a local newspaper.

If you’re in the Twin Cities area, our friends over at the MSP 2008 Host Committee announced the dates for Civic Fest - "A vibrant civic festival celebrating Minnesota and American History, democracy and the U.S. presidency." The event will be August 29 - September 4 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Because we hope to engage as many people as possible, the convention can always be accessed online via www.GOPConvention2008.com. The convention website promises to be the next best thing to a seat inside the Xcel Energy Center. We will be streaming live gavel-to-gavel and behind-the-scenes content. Find out how to become a digital delegate here. Connect with us online through Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, and Ustream.

Visit the Host Committee online - www.msp2008.com

Detailed planning for a major event like this is obviously very important - and we want to assure you that we will have comprehensive transportation and security plans in place. The convention has partnered with a professional transportation management company that is charged with helping us keep things moving smoothly on area roadways. Most convention guests will be transported to and from official events using mass transit, mainly in the form of buses, which will minimize the number of vehicles using the roadways during the event.

With the help of volunteers, the 2008 Republican National Convention will be a truly remarkable event. The 2008 Minneapolis-Saint Paul Host Committee has recruited 10,000 volunteers, who will play crucial roles in the areas of transportation, information services, hospitality, and special events during the week of the convention. The Host Committee continues to sign-up volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering visit www.msp2008.com.

The purpose of every nominating convention, both Republican and Democratic, is to officially nominate the party's candidate for president and to adopt the party's platform and rules. The Rules also establish the formula for determining how many delegates and alternates are allocated to each state. They also set the window as to when these delegates and alternates can be elected. Other than these overriding requirements, how and when delegates are selected is left to each state party to decide and that process is reflected in the rules established by each state party - typically in conjunction with state law.

Convention planning is well underway here in Minneapolis-Saint Paul and we are on track to host our party’s most successful nominating convention to date in September. The convention program and convention week events, however, are still being developed and won’t be finalized or announced until later this summer.

With the ever-increasing prominence of bloggers, we are credentialing an unprecedented number of independent bloggers compared to the 2004 convention. We appreciate how blogs provide real-time information and play a role in shaping public opinion. We look forward to utilizing numerous mediums – both emerging and traditional – to share our nominee’s vision with the American people.

We won't know the exact details of the balloon drop until closer to the convention, but stay tuned to www.GOPconvention2008.com for the latest convention announcements. In 2004, 100,000 biodegradable balloons were inflated by 200 young people in only six hours. The balloons were dropped from 50 nets hung 75 feet above the floor of Madison Square Garden.

The Republican National Committee recently unveiled a new Web site, www.GOPPlatform2008.com, which will give Americans an interactive opportunity to share their thoughts, and even submit videos, as the Republican Party develops its platform in advance of 2008 Republican National Convention.

2008 Republican National Convention gear is available through our official vendor, St. Croix Promotions & Retail, Inc. A wide-range of merchandise is available and can be found at www.rncgear.com.