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Hurricane casts pall over GOP festivities
Gustav has party leaders wary and nervous, and postponement is possible.
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Even as Republican convention officials kept a wary eye on the progress of Hurricane Gustav, about 10 of Louisiana's 90-member delegation canceled their plans Saturday to leave for the Twin Cities because of growing concerns about the building storm.
Convention officials said that there were no plans yet to shorten or postpone the convention because of the storm. Maria Cino, the convention's CEO, said in a statement that officials "continue to closely monitor the movement of the storm and are considering necessary contingencies."
Arizona Sen. John McCain, who is scheduled to be nominated Wednesday, said Saturday that the convention would be rescheduled if Gustav turned destructive.
"It just wouldn't be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near-tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster," McCain told "Fox News Sunday" in an interview taped Saturday. "So we're monitoring it from day to day, and I'm saying a few prayers, too."
The storm may affect President Bush's plans to address the convention on its first night Monday. White House press secretary Dana Perino said that Bush probably wouldn't decide to cancel until the last minute possible, according to the Associated Press.
Perino said White House staff members are discussing a range of possibilities, including an address by satellite, in case Bush decides to cancel in favor of traveling to the region either before or after the storm.
Kathy O'Connor, a spokeswoman for the Xcel Energy Center, said that things at the convention hall were progressing as normal Saturday. If the convention had to be delayed, it might be possible because the Republicans have booked the arena until Sept. 17 "We have some flexibility," she said.
The storm already has affected the plans of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. He was set to fly to the Twin Cities on Saturday, along with most of the delegation, Ruth Ulrich said. But Jindal now hopes to arrive at the convention on Tuesday, just in time for his speech before the convention Wednesday.
Louisiana delegates who decided not to attend the convention were primarily from New Orleans and coastal areas west of the city, where Gustav is expected to make landfall sometime early Tuesday, said Ruth Ulrich, the state party's incoming national committeewoman.
"Everybody is still so gun-shy from [Hurricanes] Katrina and Rita, we just want to make sure our state is safe," said Ulrich, who was helping other Louisianans check in Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis North in Brooklyn Center.
Gathering strength Saturday, Gustav was upgraded to a Category Four hurricane and meteorologists were forecasting landfall in an area west of New Orleans. Even if the storm missed the city, New Orleans would still be danger of severe flooding.
Most of Louisiana's delegates were expected to arrive either Saturday or today, said Mark Ulrich, a delegate and Ruth's husband. Delegates from Texas, another Gulf Coast state that may get hit by Gustav, also were arriving Saturday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Kevin Duchschere • 612-270-1412
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