Minnesota's delegation to the Republican National Convention may not hear from its preferred candidate on the floor in Tampa. If Ron Paul had carried five states, he would have been guaranteed a chance to be nominated and address the convention. But Paul came up one state short, carrying Minnesota, Iowa, Maine, and Louisiana.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker will get a high-profile speaking spot at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., later this month, putting a spotlight on one of the party's rising stars.

When Minnesota delegates arrived in Tampa they quickly headed for a Ron Paul rally. Paul, meanwhile, refused an offer to speak at the Republican National Convention because he would have had to clear his speech with presumptive nominee Mitt Romney. And an uninvited guest named Isaac is wreaking havoc with the convention's schedule.

Work on the Republican platform begins Monday in advance of next week's party convention. Ron Paul delegates will push for changes including more civil liberties. But, as a leader of the Minnesota delegation put it, "you can't turn the barge around in a day."

Most Minnesota Republicans who are headed to this year's national Republican convention in Tampa, Fla., are first-time delegates. Many are Ron Paul supporters, and true to form, they have an independent streak. They're seeking out cheap hotels away from the celebrity politicians and making arrangements for an unconventional convention experience.

Although its a forgone conclusion that Mitt Romney will win the GOP nomination at the Republican National Convention this coming week, several of Minnesota's delegates are still planning on voting for Texas Congresssman Ron Paul. Of the of the 40 delegates headed to the GOP convention in Tampa, Fla., 32 are Paul supporters.

States with significant Ron Paul supporters have been put in the nosebleed seats at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where the Republican National Convention gets under way this week, Politico reports.