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There are a few McCain-Pawlenty shirts left REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK Associate Editor ST. PAUL - Since today's Republican National Convention souvenirs will be tomorrow's historical curios Pady Regnier of Excelsior could argue that she's selling little pieces of history.
The owner of a promotions business who won a bid to sell campaign paraphernalia at an Xcel Energy Center gift shop was pleased with her sales figures at the end of the convention's first day.
At Regnier's shop, in place of the usual Minnesota Wild apparel, buyers found Republican- and McCain-themed T-shirts, baby clothes, hats and shot glasses. The biggest sellers, at least on a per-unit basis, were campaign buttons. Regnier told customers who wanted only one button that they were passing up savings by not buying in volume. The price rate was one for $4, five for $10 and 10 for $15. One woman bought 300, so she could distribute them to friends, Regnier said. By the end of Monday the business owner guessed she had sold about 12,000 McCain or GOP campaign buttons.
The merchandising of "ticket items," merchandise that bears the name of both running mates, was particularly tricky because McCain's choice for vice president wasn't known until last Friday. Regnier said the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska was announced at 11 a.m. and by the end of that day she had her McCain-Palin merchandise ready to go.
The product preparation wasn't completely glitch-free, however. Regnier, an admirer of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, was convinced he would be the vice presidential pick and jumped the gun having 72 McCain-Pawlenty shirts made.
In addition to her home state leaning toward Pawlenty there were candidates she didn't want to see picked.
"I was hoping (Sen. Joe) Lieberman wouldn't get it because his name is so long for a button," Regnier said.
Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey said Tuesday afternoon the selection by Sen. McCain of Gov. Sarah Palin as the vice presidential candidate was a good one.
"Gov. Palin is a very popular pick with Republican activists," he said.
Criticism about her experience, Carey said, only draws attention to Sen. Obama's lack of experience.
"I don't think Barack Obama has even run a lemonade stand as a child," Carey said.
He expected the convention would pick up a lot of ground with prime time television exposure. He also said the convention might go a little later each night to squeeze in more speakers.
Bartenders at Pazzaluna, an Italian restaurant near the Xcel Energy Center, said business was all right but complained that many of the delegates were going across the river to Minneapolis.
The going price for a tap beer at Pazzaluna was $8 and some change. For the particularly adventurous Republicans the bar was offering a Cosmopolitician, a concoction of white grape infused vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime juice and cranberry for $10.
Organizers of the Republican National Convention were thoughtful enough to include a small umbrella in a convention goodie bag that also included elephant shaped macaroni and cheese.
When brief rain showers hit St. Paul early Tuesday many people were pleased with their decision to bring umbrellas with them to the convention hall. That self-satisfaction turned to dismay when security personnel told them umbrellas would not be permitted in the Xcel Energy Center and would have to be left outside in large container.
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