Posted on 08/31/2008 8:55:35 AM PDT by paulat
ST. PAUL, Minn. — President Bush is unlikely to make it to the Republican National Convention, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may deliver his acceptance speech via satellite because of the historically huge hurricane threatening New Orleans, top officials said.
Late Saturday night, the RNC was planning to issue a release announcing the formation of a "working group of representatives from each of the states in Hurricane Gustav's path. The group will ensure that all affected delegates have information and assistance in real time.
"The Affected States Working Group is led by all five state party chairs from the affected area, along with other delegation officials. The purpose of the group will be to regularly brief their delegates and convention planners, provide access to timely information and assistance, and give input on appropriate steps that can be taken from Minnesota."
Officials insisted that the convention, scheduled to open here on Monday, will go on — albeit in a more limited and sedate form — even if Hurricane Gustav stays on its projected path. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered a mandatory evacuation beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday after federal officials said Gustav could grow to a catastrophic Category 5 and hit Monday afternoon somewhere between eastern Texas and western Mississippi.
McCain made plans to travel to a threatened area of the Gulf Coast on Sunday, accompanied by his wife, Cindy, and running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. They planned to meet Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) in Jackson, Miss., aides said.
McCain was scheduled to deliver his acceptance speech Thursday but now may do so from the devastation zone if the storm hits the U.S. coast with the ferocity feared by forecasters.
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(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
They should have McCain make his acceptance speech by satellite and Palin hosting the show in St. Paul - showing that she is a great surrogate.
Complete overreaction if they don’t attend and a HUGE mistake! McCain needs to get Palin get out in the spotlight now, not cowering from fears about how the Rats might try to paint the convention during a hurricane.
I guess images of them down there to help out would be just to much to take...
Why, this appears to be a report by Jonathan Martin....
Best idea I've heard yet.
Of course, Noggin could fold like a cheap lawn chair at any time.
POSTPONE it!
“They should have McCain make his acceptance speech by satellite and Palin hosting the show in St. Paul - showing that she is a great surrogate.”
Wow...that seems like a great idea..
You make no sense...I would want McCain down there and Palin at the convention.
Have them both there near the Gulf helping people...and on the nights in question making their speeches from location via satellite while so doing.
Great chance to show Palin is a superb pick and can lead by demonstrating. Hell, have her MC it like an awards show. lol
Too late, many of the delegates have probably already arrived. Plane reservations, hotel reservations, too many details to just postpone it.
I think Bobby Jindal is up to the task of handling this storm. Of course, the media will never mention the difference in how the governor of Louisiana responds. It’s all about Evil Uncaring Bush.
for the demorats..... think harder.
You just can’t POSTPONE an event like that...it took 18 months to do this. There are hotels, and convention space that gets taken by others....either do it, or cancel..You can’t postpone. I say just do the nominating part...Have McCain do his speech and be done with it...it’s just life happening.
Sorry...you appear to have NO IDEA what it takes to put on a convention.
Agree with you 100%. All over the Country people will be tuned in to watch and see our team helping people not partying especially after the obscene Obama acceptance. Palin is so down to earth she would want to be right there and so would McCain. Great TEAM!
I agree...have Palin at the convention doing the political work and John and Cindy doing the humanitarian thing.
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