Delegates were greeted by a pen full of sheep as they headed to the Bismarck Civic Center for the second day of the state Republican convention in Bismarck on Saturday.

A sign over the sheep's head asked convention-goers, "Are we sheep? Or are we elephants?"

The display was assembled by Mandan attorney Mike Liffrig, who will be endorsed to run for the U.S. Senate today at the convention. It was a jab at Democratic Director Vern Thompson, who was quoted in the Tribune as saying he was confident Republicans would find a "sacrificial lamb" to run against Sen. Byron Dorgan.

Inside, Republicans got to know Liffrig at an early morning fund-raiser. One man joked that Dorgan will need a boost to measure up to Liffrig during a debate. He proved he can deliver a speech and has John Edwardsesque good looks.

Liffrig tantalized Republicans with the tip that former governor Ed Schafer will help him launch a "major grass-roots campaign" that will rally the troops.

"I kind of like those 'Draft Ed' buttons because we drafted him into the campaign," Liffrig said, referring to the petered-out movement to draft Schafer into running against Dorgan.

When asked how much money Liffrig thought it would take to beat Dorgan, he answered, "After Ed's speech, it'll be a lot less."

No sheep here

About 1,000 delegates showed up for the convention, and they certainly weren't sheepish as they celebrated their unopposed candidates for statewide office, endorsing State Auditor Bob Peterson, Secretary of State Al Jaeger and Gov. John Hoeven to run for re-election, along with Duane Sand to run for the U.S. House.

The only contest of the day was over who would be the party's national committeewoman and committeeman (who hold seats on the Republican National Committee, which is essentially the GOP's board of directors). Sandy Beehler, of Fargo, launched a colorful, buzzing campaign,the theme of which was "Sandy Bee for RNC," complete with a parade of supporters wearing bumblebee yellow T-shirts and bee antennae.

But she was unable to oust current national committeewoman Connie Nicholas, of Cando.

Bismarck businessman Curly Haugland was more successful in his own challenge to national committeeman John Warford, Bismarck's mayor. After some debate over whether he'd secured enough votes, Haugland was declared the narrow winner. That despite the fact that he threw away his speech notes after being told to make it short, while Warford followed with a full speech.

Get 'em chuckling

Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee delighted the crowd with anecdotes and jokes, including one that jabbed the tendency of Arkansas officials to get indicted, including his predecessor.

"The five most feared words of an Arkansas politician are 'Will the defendant please rise?'" he said.

He said he left Arkansas on an important day - opening day of turkey hunting season - to support his friend, Hoeven, whom he called one of the most respected governors in the nation.

He mocked that other former Arkansas governor with a dead-on impression of Bill Clinton's famous take on what the definition of "is, is."

In a one-on-one with reporters later, we learned that he's lost 100 pounds in the past year by exercising and eating right, he's a bass player in a rock 'n' roll band called "Capitol Offense," and that he and his wife temporarily lived in a manufactured home instead of a governor's mansion.

Red, white and blue

Patriotism was the unmistakable theme of Sand, a retired naval officer who was endorsed to run for the U.S. House against Earl Pomeroy.

An introductory video highlighted his military service, accompanied by the tunes "I'm Proud to be an American" and "God Bless the U.S.A." Several people who endorsed him headed off accusations that he hasn't spent enough time in North Dakota by explaining that he was serving his country.

"Pomeroy has signed nothing but the back side of a paycheck his whole life," said Rep. Al Carlson, of Fargo, as he seconded Sand's nomination.

Sand said he has built and renovated apartment buildings, a motel and a restaurant, creating 25 new jobs in small North Dakota towns.

"I can't claim to have built any skyscrapers," he said. "I am no Donald Trump, but if I were, I'd look at (Pomeroy) and tell him, 'You're fired.'"

In with a bang

Two legislative leaders who often battled with Hoeven last year weren't too bitter to walk on stage to nominate Hoeven for re-election. Senate Majority Leader Bob Stenehjem (who recently was quoted as saying he expects similar battles with Hoeven next year, if he's re-elected) and House Majority Leader Rick Berg gave him short endorsements.

When the standard motion was made to unanimously endorse Hoeven, one person yelled out an opposing "aye" from the back of the room. But the party went ahead and declared it a unanimous endorsement anyway.

After the awkwardness of that passed, Hoeven's entrance was easily the most colorful and energetic of the convention. Young Hoeven supporters threw multi-colored beach balls into the crowds, and they bounced around as Hoeven danced his way around the auditorium to Pink's (she's a singer) "I'm comin' out so you better get this party started."

He did make some headway in getting the party energized, even though they have no contests to get fired up for. As Hoeven was partying his way through the room, word came that Joe Satrom just had been endorsed by Democrats to face Hoeven. Suddenly, important Republicans were all getting cell phone calls, and people could be heard quickly spreading the word, "Satrom. It's Satrom. Satrom."

Indeed, there was considerable buzzing at the GOP convention about what Democrats were doing in Fargo - particularly in snubbing state schools Superintendent Wayne Sanstead - who rarely forgets to mention that he's the nation's longest serving state superintendent - and instead giving a letter of support to Max Laird.

Hoeven gave his standard spiel about how well North Dakota is doing while the rest of the nation lags, and promised raises for state employees and no general tax increase if elected. He said even California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger noticed how well North Dakota's been doing. Hoeven said Schwarzenegger asked him how North Dakota has been able to keep its budget in the black. Hoeven said he was disappointed that the big tan man didn't ask whether he was running for re-election, because he would've answered with a phrase Schwarzenegger made famous: "Aaaaah'll be bauk."

Hoeven was escorted on and off the stage to the song "Johnny B. Goode." Presumably, Democrats in Fargo were thinking the same thing.

(Reach Deena Winter at 250-8251 or deena.winter@bismarcktribune.com.)