State Rep. Kurt Bills is the Minnesota Republican Party's pick to face U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the November election. The first-term Republican nabbed the endorsement to challenge the Democratic incumbent after two ballots at the Minnesota GOP Convention Friday in St. Cloud.

Four years after being barred from speaking at the Minnesota GOP Convention, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul got a warm welcome Friday at the state's Republican gathering in St. Cloud. Paul didn't talk about his suspended bid for the GOP presidential nomination, but instead shared his message of limited government and personal liberty.

The state Republican Party's financial situation is so bad the party skipped a couple of rent payments on its St. Paul headquarters. As the party struggles to pay off a debt of one million dollars, the national GOP is worried about the state party's ability to help Republican candidates this fall.

Former State Representative Mike Osskopp has dropped out of the race for Republican party chair and endorsed the newest entrant, Pat Shortridge. The Minnesota GOP will meet in St. Cloud on December 31st to select a new party leader.

Minnesota's Grand Old Party has taken numerous hits recently as key party members resign and debt issues loom.

The Republican presidential hopeful will be in St. Cloud May 18. Ron Paul is Mitt Romney's only remaining challenger for the GOP nomination. Last month, Paul took 20 of Minnesota's 24 Congressional District delegates.