Mary Tyler Moore may have to take a backseat as Minnesota’s most famous face on TV to one lucky YouTube user come September, thanks to a contest linked to the Republican convention in the Twin Cities.

Both the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention committees announced Friday they will team up with YouTube on contests inviting participants to create videos explaining why they are a Republican or Democrat in 2008.

The Republican winner will travel with GOP candidate Sen. John McCain’s (Ariz.) press pool for a day to shoot a new video, which will be shown at the Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities. The Democratic winner will have his or her video shown before the delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Each winner will also attend his or her party’s convention.

Two-minute video entries for the contest will be accepted until Aug. 1. The staffs of the Republican and Democratic conventions will then narrow the pool down to five, before YouTube users vote to select a winner for each convention. Winners will be announced on Aug. 14.

“Get involved, make a video, vote on the others, and join us at the most exciting political event of the summer,” Republican National Committee chairman Robert M. Duncan said in a YouTube video announcing the contest on the Republican convention’s channel, which can be found at www.youtube.com/GOPConvention2008 .

“Much like our nominee,” said Democratic National Convention Committee CEO Leah D. Daughtry, “YouTube has a track record of engaging new voters — especially young voters — and giving them a platform to express themselves.” The Democratic site can be found at youtube.com/demconvention .

The Democratic National Convention will be held Aug. 25-28 in Denver. The Republican National Convention will be held in Minneapolis from Sept. 1-4.