The elephants stampede into Fargo this weekend as 1,100 Republican delegates meet to organize, socialize and pick their party’s nominees for statewide office.Spread over three days at the Holiday Inn, the 2008 state Republican convention will feature candidate speeches, social events, a dinner with Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and a speech by Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer.

“It’s kind of like a bunch of old friends coming together, and meeting a lot of new people, too,” said House Majority Leader Rick Berg, R-Fargo.

Between the festivities, Republican delegates will be deciding on a party platform and on who their party wants to run for governor, U.S. House, state auditor, state treasurer, insurance commissioner, state superintendent and public service commissioner.

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