mick silver
15th May 2010, 04:32 PM
CHARLOTTE – The National Rifle Association Convention is drawing national attention as several possible candidates for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination are taking the stage amidst talks of the Democratic National Convention coming to the Queen City in 2012.
Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was a featured speaker on Friday, focusing on the second amendment right to bear arms and rallying her Republican base at the same time.
A crowd of 9,000 NRA members greeted the former vice presidential hopeful with a standing ovation at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Still a favorite among many Republicans, Palin's message Friday echoed with her supporters. She said Democratic lawmakers and gun control activists are targeting the second amendment.
"Those gun laws, those gun banned attempts, they affect us,†said Palin. When politicians try to ban guns, all they do is take them away from law-abiding citizens."
Palin joins many other national Republican heavyweights at this weekend's convention.
Rob Bryan, Mecklenburg County's GOP chairman, said the Republican leaning NRA convention not only revs up the base, it helps get more Republicans on board before this fall’s critical midterm elections.
"It's an opportunity for us to beat the pavement, find new volunteers," said Bryan.
But while Charlotte is a national GOP magnet this weekend, Democrats are also eyeing the Queen City as a possible host for the 2012 National Convention.
"I think it's a big reflection of how Charlotte has truly has become a truly national city," said Mike Daisley with the Mecklenburg County Democrats.
He said the party's top leadership would be smart to choose a swing city and state for President Obama's re-election push.
"Why go to a solid red state? Why go to a solid blue state? Go to a state that is clearly growing and is becoming more and more blue, but really is on the edge," said Daisley.
But this weekend Charlotte is as red as it comes as Palin energized the NRA audience and other conservatives urged their base to take their fight against gun control to the polls in November.
http://news14.com/charlotte-news-104-content/local_news/625883/nra-convention-draws-national-political-attention
Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was a featured speaker on Friday, focusing on the second amendment right to bear arms and rallying her Republican base at the same time.
A crowd of 9,000 NRA members greeted the former vice presidential hopeful with a standing ovation at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Still a favorite among many Republicans, Palin's message Friday echoed with her supporters. She said Democratic lawmakers and gun control activists are targeting the second amendment.
"Those gun laws, those gun banned attempts, they affect us,†said Palin. When politicians try to ban guns, all they do is take them away from law-abiding citizens."
Palin joins many other national Republican heavyweights at this weekend's convention.
Rob Bryan, Mecklenburg County's GOP chairman, said the Republican leaning NRA convention not only revs up the base, it helps get more Republicans on board before this fall’s critical midterm elections.
"It's an opportunity for us to beat the pavement, find new volunteers," said Bryan.
But while Charlotte is a national GOP magnet this weekend, Democrats are also eyeing the Queen City as a possible host for the 2012 National Convention.
"I think it's a big reflection of how Charlotte has truly has become a truly national city," said Mike Daisley with the Mecklenburg County Democrats.
He said the party's top leadership would be smart to choose a swing city and state for President Obama's re-election push.
"Why go to a solid red state? Why go to a solid blue state? Go to a state that is clearly growing and is becoming more and more blue, but really is on the edge," said Daisley.
But this weekend Charlotte is as red as it comes as Palin energized the NRA audience and other conservatives urged their base to take their fight against gun control to the polls in November.
http://news14.com/charlotte-news-104-content/local_news/625883/nra-convention-draws-national-political-attention