The stage at the Republican National Convention will look a little different tonight.

Workers were busy overnight adding a 30-foot extension to the stage, so it juts out much further into the arena floor. The goal is to have Sen. John McCain be surrounded by delegates. Organizers hope for a "town hall"-type atmosphere, inside the 19,000-seat home of the Minnesota Wild.

"The extended podium will serve as a fitting complement to John McCain's preference for direct interaction with his fellow citizens," said Maria Cino, president and CEO of the 2008 Republican National Convention.

The change means the Ohio delegation, which, like other important swing states has had front-row seats, will be moved a bit to be on either side of the new extended stage. — Joe Kimball