Ron Paul’s followers are trading venues for a Minnesota rally planned during the Republican National Convention, giving them room for thousands more spectators.

The conservative Texas congressman and former Republican presidential candidate is the headliner for the “Rally for the Republic.” It will take place at Target Center in Minneapolis, home of basketball’s Minnesota Timberwolves.

Organizers expect as many as 15,000 people to hear Paul speak during the 10-hour rally on Sept. 2.

Local coordinator Marianne Stebbins said she doesn’t see the rally as being in competition with the Republican convention set for Sept. 1-4 at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center.

“We have two different goals,” Stebbins said today. “They’re there for their political convention to nominate their candidate. We’re supplementing it. Liberty is getting short shrift right now. We’re giving our people a place to go for those days.”

A mission statement posted on the rally’s Web site describes one goal as to place “a clear call to the Republican Party to return to its roots of limited government, personal responsibility, and protection of our natural rights.”

A Republican convention spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sen. John McCain is due to receive his party’s nomination on the GOP convention’s final day.

The Paul event planners had originally scoped out a college basketball arena that they figured would hold 11,000 people. Target Center can hold almost 20,000 people for concerts.

Stebbins said Paul supporters from coast-to-coast are expected to attend.

The Paul speech will be the capstone for three days of planned activities. They include training sessions for people looking to become more politically involved, concerts and a Paul book signing.

Tickets go on sale Friday at a cost of $17.76.