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There was a Marquette Republican presence at this year’s Republican Party of Wisconsin convention. Luke Fuller and I were there to help out with Scott Walker hospitality suite. This was my first convention so I really had no idea what to expect. But over-all the experience was pretty cool, even though I wasn’t able to participate fully. Turns out to sit by all the signs with the county names you have to be a delegate and I joined the Waukesha Co. party too late to become one. I will fix this for next convention. I was jealous though that anyone that joined the Milwaukee County Party got to be a delegate. Someone explained this to me that allowing that was decided at the caucus but I can’t remember exactly. Being able to connect with some many active Republicans, not just on the college level but also at the county and state and seeing so many politicians from Wisconsin in one room was a really great experience.

One of the highlights of the convention has to be the hospitality suites, and the Scott Walker one rocked! Not saying the suites hosted by Paul Ryan, J.B. Van Hollen, and John Gard didn’t. All the hospitality suites had their own little theme. The Scott Walker one was Harley themed, to highlight his upcoming Harley ride around the state, and served some of Steven’s Point’s finest beverages (and ice cream for root beer floats). I never made it down to some of the other suits for a long enough amount of time to really explore things; however one of the other suits had a Hawaiian theme because pina coladas and daiquiris were delivered.

Saturday convention was a grand time as well. The morning featured a Wake up with Walker coffee (and cake) which did pretty nicely. Then there was convention business, which I would have really liked to have seen, and then lunch. Convention also featured voter vault training similar to one I participated in January. Now that I know what convention is like, I’ll know how to get the full experience next time.

WiscPolitics also held a straw poll there for governor and senate:
1) If a 2010 primary for governor were being held today, which Republican would you choose to be the party’s nominee?

–Scott Walker, 157
–J.B. Van Hollen, 24
–Bill McCoshen, 9
–Scott Fitzgerald, 8
–Tommy Thompson, 5
–Mike Huebsch, 4
–Mark Neumann, 4
–Rick Graber, 1
–No Vote, 1
–Mark Todd, 0

Write-ins, 7
–Mark Gundrum led with 2

2) If a 2010 primary for U.S. Senate were being held today, which Republican would you choose to be the party’s nominee?

–Paul Ryan, 123
–Mark Green, 44
–Tim Michels, 23
–Ted Kanavas, 8
–Scott Klug, 3
–Curt Culver 2
–No vote 1

Write-ins: 16 total
–Rick Graber led with 6.

I really wish I had more, forgive me. It was my first convention and I really didn’t know what to expect so next time I’ll be able to appreciate it all fully. Anyone that was there, feel free to toss in your two cents and add to this.

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