North Dakotans at the RNC | Video

Joel Porter | 8/27/2012

Despite a looming tropical storm, dozens of North Dakota Republicans have traveled across the country to join in the national convention.

"Even though the weather has not been ideal. When you get thousands of Republicans from across the country with the same vision for America and bringing back jobs and creating a better economy for our country, it`s exciting for anybody," said delegate Jim Poolman.

Poolman is one of 28 delegates who is in Tampa this week. The weather canceled Monday`s events, which meant U.S. Senate candidate Rick Berg`s speech was bumped back to Tuesday afternoon.

"The party has given Congressman Berg a really tremendous opportunity to get his campaign message out there and we`re really looking forward to it," Poolman said.

Delegates say Berg won`t have the full 20 minutes when he takes the stage, but he may not need it. They say Berg could engage fellow Republicans with a number of topics ranging from North Dakota`s budget surplus to the need for even more help in the energy sector.

"Overreach of the EPA and that is huge. The Keystone Pipeline, talking to delegates from the other states is absolutely huge. It`d take 5,000 trucks off the road in North Dakota each day. It`d go a long way toward providing energy security to the whole nation and it`d add jobs," said NDGOP Chairman Stan Stein.

Delegates will also join in a roll call vote when they`re expected to formally back Mitt Romney for the presidential ticket. Romney himself will address the convention on Thursday evening.

"I think it`s going to be a wow moment from when our people from North Dakota step through the door and see what they`re going to be part of," Stein said.

As the storm appears to be bypassing Tampa, delegates like Poolman say they won`t have to adjust their travel plans.

Berg will speak at 2:00 tomorrow afternoon. Senator Hoeven and Governor Dalrymple are also scheduled to address the convention tomorrow morning.

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