Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul himself will address the Minnesota Republican convention in St. Cloud this month, the party announced Wednesday.

The Paul visit bespeaks of a major changed in the party since four years ago. The Texas Congressman, the only remaining challenger to Mitt Romney's GOP nomination, has earned 20 of the 24 delegates to the national convention already selected in Minnesota.

Four years ago, he was not permitted to address the state convention. This time around he is being welcomed to the stage.

"Having the Congressman speak will highlight our common Republican purpose of restoring limited government and individual liberty by electing Republican candidates who believe in those core party principles," Republican chairman Pat Shortridge said. "It will also establish the Republican Party as the growing party that is welcoming new people and new ideas and preparing to be a long-term, conservative governing majority."

In addition to the presidential delegates Paul has already earned, the result of an organized, disciplined operation built over months, he is also thought to have at least 40 percent of the delegates to the state convention.

Those state delegates could help him earn more might among the Republican National Convention attendees and may give a significant boost to U.S. Senate candidate Kurt Bills, who has Paul's personal endorsement as well as support from a large tranche of Republican state lawmakers.

Paul will address the state convention on its opening day on Friday, May 18.