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Hurricane Weakens, Republicans Wait in St. Paul
As a weakened Hurricane Gustav struck the Gulf Coast on Monday, Republicans prepared to conduct only “official required business” at their convention in St. Paul, Minnesota -- for now.
(CNSNews.com) - As a weakened Hurricane Gustav struck the Gulf Coast on Monday, Republicans prepared to conduct only “official, required business” at their convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Both President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney canceled the speeches they planned to give on Monday night. Instead, First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain plan to address the Republican delegates Monday on hurricane relief efforts for the Gulf Coast.
Press reports said Sen. John McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was in St. Paul on Monday, and she planned to help out at a phone bank set up by the Republican Party to raise money for displaced Gulf Coast residents.
On Monday, Laura Bush praised Palin as “a really tough western woman" who brings a lot to the Republican ticket.
"Everyone'e eye is on the Gulf Coast," Mrs. Bush told Texas delegates on Monday. (President Bush was in Austin and San Antonio, Texas, on Monday, for updates on the storm and relief efforts.)
Hurricane Gustav made landfall west of New Orleans around 10 a.m. Monday morning as a Category 2 storm. As of noon on Monday, press reports said water was spilling over the leeves in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, but the levees themselves had not yet burst.
Meanwhile, the Republican convention will convene Monday at 2:30 p.m. CDT to conduct the business necessary to ensure that the Party can place John McCain and Sarah Palin's names on the November ballot.
"The safety and well-being of the people of the Gulf States remains our top concern,” RNC Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan said on Sunday. “As Senator McCain said this morning, we must redirect our attention and efforts. Our first priority is to help our fellow citizens in need."
“This is just one of those moments in history where you have to put America first,” McCain told NBC News on Sunday. “The rest of it, certainly from Monday night, has got to be Americans helping Americans,” McCain said.
Both McCain and Sen. Barack Obama are featuring prominent messages about Hurricane Gustav -- and how Americans can help -- on their Web sites.
In addition, McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin made an unscheduled trip to Mississippi on Sunday for a briefing on Hurricane preparation plans.
According to the Associated Press, Republican officials say they still expect Sen. McCain to address the convention at Thursday night's convention finale.
As a weakened Hurricane Gustav struck the Gulf Coast on Monday, Republicans prepared to conduct only “official required business” at their convention in St. Paul, Minnesota -- for now.
Both President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney canceled the speeches they planned to give on Monday night. Instead, First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain plan to address the Republican delegates Monday on hurricane relief efforts for the Gulf Coast.
Press reports said Sen. John McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was in St. Paul on Monday, and she planned to help out at a phone bank set up by the Republican Party to raise money for displaced Gulf Coast residents.
On Monday, Laura Bush praised Palin as “a really tough western woman" who brings a lot to the Republican ticket.
"Everyone'e eye is on the Gulf Coast," Mrs. Bush told Texas delegates on Monday. (President Bush was in Austin and San Antonio, Texas, on Monday, for updates on the storm and relief efforts.)
Hurricane Gustav made landfall west of New Orleans around 10 a.m. Monday morning as a Category 2 storm. As of noon on Monday, press reports said water was spilling over the leeves in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, but the levees themselves had not yet burst.
Meanwhile, the Republican convention will convene Monday at 2:30 p.m. CDT to conduct the business necessary to ensure that the Party can place John McCain and Sarah Palin's names on the November ballot.
"The safety and well-being of the people of the Gulf States remains our top concern,” RNC Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan said on Sunday. “As Senator McCain said this morning, we must redirect our attention and efforts. Our first priority is to help our fellow citizens in need."
“This is just one of those moments in history where you have to put America first,” McCain told NBC News on Sunday. “The rest of it, certainly from Monday night, has got to be Americans helping Americans,” McCain said.
Both McCain and Sen. Barack Obama are featuring prominent messages about Hurricane Gustav -- and how Americans can help -- on their Web sites.
In addition, McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin made an unscheduled trip to Mississippi on Sunday for a briefing on Hurricane preparation plans.
According to the Associated Press, Republican officials say they still expect Sen. McCain to address the convention at Thursday night's convention finale.
