BISMARCK, N.D. — In a scene reminiscent of a holiday shopping frenzy, campaign workers rushed the North Dakota Republican state convention hall Friday to claim prime space for their favored candidate's signs as preparations for the weekend political soiree wrapped up.
Volunteers plastered signs on railings and walls in the convention hall, an outside foyer of the Bismarck Civic Center and even in the facility's bathroom stalls.
Some posters that were slapped up on an outside fence began flapping in the wind after a few hours, prompting efforts to fasten them more securely.
"They opened the door and everyone comes running in, like they're going to find the latest PS3," said Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm, referring to a popular video game player.
A group of Democrats held a protest outside the convention hall late Friday, offering doughnut holes to passers-by to illustrate what they said was GOP U.S. Rep. Rick Berg's opposition to closing a Medicare prescription drug benefit loophole referred to as the "doughnut hole." Berg is seeking the GOP endorsement to run for the U.S. Senate.
Carol Jean Larsen, one of the protest's organizers, said the group would be demonstrating again outside the Bismarck Civic Center Saturday morning.
More than 1,700 North Dakota Republican convention delegates were expected to attend the convention Saturday and Sunday. Delegates were to endorse their favored candidates for eight offices, four of which had multiple candidates.
The delegates are choosing their favored candidates for U.S. Senate, governor, public service commissioner, insurance commissioner, auditor, treasurer and superintendent of public instruction on Saturday.
On Sunday, the convention is scheduled to end after delegates pick their preferred candidate for the U.S. House.
Five people are competing for delegates' favor — state Reps. Bette Grande of Fargo and Kim Koppelman of West Fargo, Public Service Commissioner Brian Kalk, former state Commerce Department director Shane Goettle and DuWayne Hendrickson of Minot.
A sixth candidate, Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer, is skipping the endorsement fight and plans to run in the June Republican primary instead.
Berg appeared to have the most prolific sign presence inside the convention hall Friday.
In addition, delegates who checked into Bismarck hotels that had rooms reserved for GOP convention delegates were given a room key card that was a facsimile of a Berg campaign sign.
"It's a great idea," said state Rep. Al Carlson, R-Fargo, the North Dakota House's majority leader, who displayed his card for a reporter Friday.