Republican presidential contender Ron Paul will have some competition when he shows up in Branson for a Friday night rally.

Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating — a Republican who served two terms and is a close ally of presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain –will be the featured speaker Friday night at the Missouri Republican Party’s pre-convention gala.

The state GOP’s event — like the Paul rally – begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, at the Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa and Convention Center in Branson, MO.

(Paul’s rally is at Tri-Lakes Center, 2527 State Highway 248 in Branson.)

State Republican Party chairman Doug Russell announced  Keating’s appearance in a release this afternoon.

“Governor Keating is an unwavering supporter of conservative ideas and is recognized as public official who cares deeply about the direction of our country.   We are pleased to have him share with our State Convention attendees Senator McCain’s vision for the future,” Russell said in a statement.

 The release notes that Keating was only ”the second governor — and the first Republican — to win two consecutive terms as Governor of Oklahoma.

“Keating faced an often-hostile Democratic majority in both houses of the legislature as he led the drive to reform his state’s welfare system and other social programs. The welfare law passed in 1995 was one of the first of its kind in the nation and reduced Oklahoma’s welfare rolls by more than 70 percent by 2001. He also went to war on crime with tough parole policies and truth-in-sentencing laws in a campaign he credits with turning the corner on rising crime rates. ”