How Was The Donald Lured To Bismarck?

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — It took North Dakota's oil industry group, the state's lone congressman and an oil billionaire from Oklahoma to lure Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump to Bismarck.

North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness says the process to get Trump to speak at the annual Williston Basin Petroleum Council Conference and Expo began weeks ago. Ness says GOP Rep. Kevin Cramer and Continental Resources chairman Harold Hamm also invited Trump. Both men are Trump supporters.

State GOP Chairman Kelly Armstrong says Trump's appearance at the oil expo will allow him to lay out his energy policy.

Expo organizers say they are expecting more than 7,000 people to attend Trump's keynote address Thursday. They say Trump is not being paid.