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Memo highlights Minnesota GOP debt woes

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Apr 9, 2012 at 5:07 pm

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The financial state of the Minnesota Republican Party has been so "precarious'' this year that it went a couple months without paying rent on its St. Paul headquarters.

That's according to a confidential memo from its treasurer that became public Monday. The party's deep debt problems contributed to a turnover in leadership last year and have caused internal worries about its ability to assist candidates this fall.

The party owes vendors nearly $1 million from services previously provided and is working to pay off federal penalties and a credit line.

Minnesota GOP chairman Pat Shortridge says the memo dated February 29 reflects "only a snapshot in time'' and that the party is in better shape now than it was a few months ago.

The memo was first reported by Politico.