After Denial Gay candidate is now invited to state GOP event
Just one day after California Republican Fred Karger - the only openly gay 2012 Republican presidential candidate - said his party had given him "the cold shoulder" in attempts to speak at the upcoming party convention, the state GOP reversed course by apparently welcoming him to the event.
"I'm thrilled, and I'm glad they came around to let me participate," the moderate candidate said, after crediting the party's shift to a Chronicle story published Wednesday about his case.
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann has already been given the Friday night keynote address slot at the convention scheduled Sept. 16-18 in Los Angeles, where Texas Rep. Ron Paul is also expected to attend Saturday.
California GOP Chairman Tom Del Beccaro told The Chronicle last week that he had extended an invitation to all candidates because the party would be doing a straw poll designed to pump up excitement and fundraising.
But Karger - who lives in Laguna Beach (Orange County) - told The Chronicle that weeks ago he asked to be invited to the convention to address delegates as a presidential candidate who is the only California resident in the GOP pack. He said he was told by a party official that the schedule was "full."
Within an hour of publication of The Chronicle's story about Karger's claims this week, state GOP communications director Mark Standriff issued this statement: "Fred has always been welcome at the CRP - in fact, we've been working to finalize an event for him at our convention, based on a request from his camp. We're looking forward to seeing him in L.A. next month."
Karger said that late Tuesday, GOP officials offered him a chance to speak and introduce himself to GOP delegates at a Saturday preluncheon event and other gatherings during the party's convention.
"I've been active, and I'm very excited to participate," he said, calling his campaign "a historic undertaking."
"I'm thrilled, and I'm glad they came around to let me participate," the moderate candidate said, after crediting the party's shift to a Chronicle story published Wednesday about his case.
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann has already been given the Friday night keynote address slot at the convention scheduled Sept. 16-18 in Los Angeles, where Texas Rep. Ron Paul is also expected to attend Saturday.
California GOP Chairman Tom Del Beccaro told The Chronicle last week that he had extended an invitation to all candidates because the party would be doing a straw poll designed to pump up excitement and fundraising.
But Karger - who lives in Laguna Beach (Orange County) - told The Chronicle that weeks ago he asked to be invited to the convention to address delegates as a presidential candidate who is the only California resident in the GOP pack. He said he was told by a party official that the schedule was "full."
Within an hour of publication of The Chronicle's story about Karger's claims this week, state GOP communications director Mark Standriff issued this statement: "Fred has always been welcome at the CRP - in fact, we've been working to finalize an event for him at our convention, based on a request from his camp. We're looking forward to seeing him in L.A. next month."
Karger said that late Tuesday, GOP officials offered him a chance to speak and introduce himself to GOP delegates at a Saturday preluncheon event and other gatherings during the party's convention.
"I've been active, and I'm very excited to participate," he said, calling his campaign "a historic undertaking."
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