karlrove.gifThe Republican Party of Minnesota promised a “leading conservative” to headline the state convention in Rochester this weekend and got one: former top Bush adviser Karl Rove.

Party chairman Ron Carey told the party’s leadership team last weekend that the planning would work to “further motivate [John McCain's supporters] to be in Rochester early” — a ploy to make sure as many delegates and alternates attend in order to prevent a possible convention takeover by Ron Paul supporters. 

“[Paul] is probably trying to get sufficient support to be able to speak at the national convention,” Duane Quam, chairman of the First Congressional District, told the Rochester Post-Bulletin on Thursday. “We’re one of the few conventions that there would be a possibility of picking up a delegate here and there.”

Also headlining will be Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. Paul has also announced he will be speaking in Rochester at the convention.

According to Bluestem Prairie, Rep. Tim Walz, DFL-Minn., is using the appearance to as a fund-raising appeal.

“Karl Rove, the man who masterminded two Bush terms and perfected the politics of personal destruction, is coming to Rochester, MN this weekend and he is coming to campaign for my opponent,” wrote the Walz campaign. “As you know, Karl Rove put me on a list of his top 36 targets back in March 2007 – just three months into my first term. Now, with seven months until the November General Election, Rove is coming to Rochester to support my Republican opponent.”