"SHADOW" REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN WORKS NEWSPAPER

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Former Republican insider Arianna Huffington is
helping to organize a "shadow" convention that would draw attention to
issues such as campaign finance reform during this summer's Republican
National Convention, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Wednesday.

The newspaper said Huffington, a one-time confidante of former House
Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Georgia Republican, is expected to be joined at
the gathering by actor Warren Beatty, Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain
and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

The so-called shadow convention would run July 30 to Aug. 4 and address
issues including campaign finance reform, the federal government's war on
drugs and the growing income gap between rich and poor in the United States.

The Daily News said as many as 1,000 people could attend, with more
watching via the Internet.

The Republican convention, which will formally nominate Texas Gov. George
W. Bush for president, will take place July 31 to Aug. 3 in Philadelphia.

"We don't expect hostility," Huffington told the Daily News. "After all,
(the Republicans) claim to want to reach their reform-minded constituents
... it's a reform-minded convention coming together to address a
reform-minded audience."