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Small Platform Means A Closer Convention Audience

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Aug 15, 2008 6:07 am US/Central

Small Platform Means A Closer Convention Audience

ST. PAUL (AP) ― The podium at next month's Republican National Convention in St. Paul is smaller than usual, and organizers said it brings the audience in closer to the candidate and other speakers.

The podium that's nearly complete at the Xcel Energy Center is 50 feet wide and 4 feet tall. It joins a trend of shrinking convention stages for a more intimate appearance.

Political observers said the closer the candidate is to the audience, the more the candidate can feed off the crowd.

Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain has held most of his campaign events in more intimate settings, whereas Democrat Barack Obama has held dozens of large political rallies.

Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention will take place at Invesco Field, a large outdoor stadium in Denver.

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According to GOP.com, the Republican Party was born in the early 1850's by anti-slavery activists and individuals who believed that government should grant western lands to settlers free of charge. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected as the first Republican Party president.


(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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