Even without McCain, prez race on the minds of GOP convo attendees

State Republicans will get one of John McCain's potential running mates this weekend. But the presumptive GOP nominee has other commitments.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a frequently mentioned veep possibility, will be the main attraction at the GOP state convention in Stevens Point, delivering the keynote address Friday night. There will also be a VIP reception for him before the speech.

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But even without McCain there still will still be plenty of presidential activity, planning and discussion, because Wisconsin is a key state in the GOP's Electoral College math, because some conservatives are still warming up to McCain, and because a lot of elected Republican candidates down ballot are depending upon the maverick to do well in Wisconsin.

And while McCain's not visiting the convention, he did help the state party out this week. The Seattle Times reports that a portion of the funds raised at a McCain event in Washington state on Tuesday were slated to go to the Wisconsin GOP.

Wisconsin is again expected to be one of the most contested states in the country come November, and both major-party nominees are expected to invest a lot of time and resources in the state. John Kerry won the state by about 11,000 votes in 2004, while Al Gore edged George Bush here by about 5,000 votes in 2000.