GOP officials unveil podium and final touches for convention

MinnPost photo by Joe Kimball

Republican officials today unveiled their podium and backdrop for next week’s convention.

Republican officials this afternoon unveiled their convention podium and the 50-by-30-foot HD television screen behind it. The Republican National Convention starts Monday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

They noted, often, that their podium is lower, only 4 feet off the floor and simpler than the one Democrats are using this week in Denver.

Maria Cino, CEO of the convention, was asked about the rumors that Sen. John McCain might delay the convention if the hurricane hits the New Orleans area.  She said: “We’ll start on the day we said we’ll start, and we’ll finish on the day we said we would finish.”

Red carpet lines the floors in the arena, and most major media outlets have their own booths and signs visible from the floor. Balloons are ready to be loaded into the rafters.

All the preparations, though, couldn’t stop a bat from flying around the hall during the presentation.

MinnPost photo by Joe Kimball

Balloons, today awaiting their ascension to the top of Xcel Energy Center, filled several seats in the arena.

Here’s the view speakers will have next week from the convention podium.

MinnPost photo by Joe Kimball

Signage and booths for many major news organizations — including Aljazeera Channel, part of the Arabic-language news network (shown in upper left) — ring much of the arena bowl.