Ron Paul Fans Stage Their Own Party

"Ronvoys" have begun converging on Minneapolis, where Ron Paul supporters plan to gather in a convention near to, but separate from, the Republican hullaboo in St. Paul. Nearly 10,000 anti-war, anti-taxes, anti-big-government, and pro-personal-liberties revelers plan to attend the Rally for the Republic, otherwise known as Ronstock '08, the AP reports.

"No matter how much our message is ignored or ridiculed, as was done in the campaign, no matter how much they did to us, it only energized our grass roots," says Paul, who will be addressing his supporters, along with Jesse Ventura. His backers say they're not trying to crash the Republican convention, which declined to invite Paul to speak. An RNC spokeswoman insists, "Our focus is really on this side of the river." (More Ron Paul stories.)