Republicans planning Spokane County convention

Spokane Republicans will gather for their county convention at 9 a.m. Saturday with the presidential nomination already settled.

That doesn’t mean they’ll have nothing to do at the Lewis and Clark High School Field House. They’ll hear speeches from gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and others.

The real action will involve the potential competition between supporters of GOP nominee-in-waiting John McCain and Rep. Ron Paul for adopting a platform and electing state convention delegates.

Paul, who takes different stances from McCain on issues including the war in Iraq and the economy, had the most support in local precinct caucuses. The Texas congressman suspended his campaign last month but has not released his delegates, who were well-organized early in the campaign.

County Chairman Curt Fackler said he expects about 500 delegates and alternates to attend.