Traficant, a Democrat, considering invitation to attend GOP convention
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rebel Democratic Rep. James A. Traficant, Jr., of Ohio is considering accepting an invitation to attend, and possibly address, the Republican National Convention next week in Philadelphia, CNN has learned.
"There's a slight chance he'll be going," Traficant's press secretary, Paul Marcone, said. "He hasn't made up his mind yet.
Traficant, who has said he will support the re-election of Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, as speaker of the House next session, received the invitation from "a leading Republican," Marcone said.
"He might go out of courtesy or respect for Hastert and the other GOP leaders," Marcone said.
House Republicans, who have been openly courting the recalcitrant Democrat, recently passed a bill that included $25 million for a community center in Traficant's hometown of Youngstown.
Marcone said his office has received numerous calls from delegates to the convention asking Traficant to deliver a series of his signature "one-minute" speeches he has made popular by their daily delivery on the House floor.
Traficant's speeches generally deal with various abuses by the federal government and conclude with the congressman yelling in disgust, "Beam me up!"
It is not clear how those speeches might fit into the overall convention program.
Marcone said Traficant is not sure the GOP convention is "the appropriate forum" for his message, and believes the convention is Governor George W. Bush's time in the spotlight.
Traficant has not decided if he will endorse Bush or Vice President Al Gore for president, Marcone said.
Marcone said he does not think his boss will officially switch parties.
A stumbling block to attending the convention is a possible corruption indictment the eight-term representative has said may be handed down against him before Labor Day.
Traficant has repeatedly predicted he will be indicted in an ongoing federal investigation in Ohio because of his alleged ties to organized crime. He has denied any wrongdoing.
An arrest or incarceration "could throw a monkey wrench" into the possibility he would attend, Marcone noted.
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