With so many expected attendees and the potential economic opportunity for the Florida community, it is difficult to understand why the RNC would not release the venue in a timely manner.

Efforts by supporters of Republican presidential contender Rep. Ron Paul to organize a large pre-convention festival, Paul Fest 2012, at the Florida State Fairgrounds are being stymied by the delay of the Republican National Committee to release a venue for booking.

"By delaying the release," explains Deborah Robinet, an organizer from San Diego, CA, "the Republican leadership is actually denying conference organizers sufficient time to plan the event, which is expected to bring as many as 100,000 to Tampa."

The Paul Festival, which is planned as a multi-day music festival dedicated to the idea of personal liberty, is currently scheduled for August 24 to 26, preceding the start of the GOP convention on August 27. Organizers have received commitments from major celebrity speakers and top-tier musical talent. However, unless the RNC quickly releases the venue, which is just 10 miles from the site of the Republican National Convention, the event may not be able to go forward.

"With so many expected attendees and the potential economic opportunity for the Florida community," continues Robinet, "it is difficult to understand why the RNC would not release the venue in a timely manner."

Rep. Paul filled stadiums nationwide throughout the Republican Primary season.

Although it is typical for a major convention to reserve secondary venues when its preliminary plans are being formulated, it is also customary for those venues to be released when no plans arise to utilize them. This has been the case for venues such as the Channel Side Bay Mall, which already has been cleared for use by the Sarah Palin PAC, according to ABC News.

Additional details about Paul Festival can be found at http://www.PaulFestival.org. Tickets and merchandise are expected to go on sale shortly. Congressman Paul, as well as many other prominent Republicans, will be invited to attend the event. Nationally known music headliners and guest speakers are expected to be announced in the days to come.