Republicans hoping for a grand old party in Minn.

Organizers plan to begin construction Monday at the Xcel Energy Center, home to the Minnesota Wild NHL hockey franchise, to host 4,600 delegates and alternates and thousands more guests and media Sept. 1-4. The sessions get under way just four days after Democrats conclude their own convention in Denver; never before have the two parties' events been scheduled so late in the summer, and so close together.

McCain strategists believe the timing could work to their advantage, potentially blunting the post-Denver "bounce" Obama should receive as a newly minted nominee. And even though Obama now leads McCain by double digits in most Minnesota polls, his strategists hope a successful convention could help the Arizona senator's chances of winning the state.

Elected officials of both parties have taken a leadership role.

Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, thought to be on McCain's short list of potential running mates, has raised funds for the convention. The Democratic mayors of the liberal-leaning Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul have done so as well, eager for the exposure such high-profile gatherings often generate.

The cities last hosted a national political convention in 1892, when President Benjamin Harrison, a Republican, was nominated to serve a second term. (He lost his re-election bid.)

This year, Republicans remain acutely mindful of the challenge they face: How best to showcase McCain, an unpopular party's aging, less-than telegenic standard-bearer, against Obama's soaring oratory and historic status as a major party's first black nominee.

"I don't know that I've been to a convention that hasn't had a lot of excitement and energy," GOP convention president Maria Cino said. "Sen. McCain will talk about issues that are important to people, and will talk specifically, not generally, about what he believes in and why he will be the next president of the United States."

Even with Obama planning to deliver his convention speech at a football stadium filled with 75,000 supporters, Cino resisted the notion that the GOP convention might risk appearing too traditional by comparison. She noted the technological innovations the convention was pursuing, including a YouTube video contest, and said voter attention would quickly shift to St. Paul regardless.

"Our convention starts Monday and really, with all due respect, we are front and center, we take the stage," Cino said.