MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Reggie the Registration Rig (search) is too big - and too political - for the streets of West Virginia University.
The new Republican Party bandwagon is a 56-foot, 80,000-pound rig designed for registering voters. It bypassed Morgantown on Friday after WVU officials turned down an offer to be its first host. That honor went to Marshall University (search) in Huntington.
WVU does not sponsor political events, said Becky Lofstead, a university spokeswoman. Plans for hosting Reggie were more than the College Republicans (search) chapter could handle, she said.
"It would have required parking the vehicle on Maiden Lane," Lofstead said. "That would have blocked off the street. We would have needed parking and extra security staff."
Reggie is equipped with interactive multimedia and a sound stage. The GOP plans to drive the rig to campuses, sporting events, parades, festivals and other public events to sign up new voters until Nov. 4.
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