Delegates to assemble 'comfort packages' for Gulf region

A hurricane relief effort caught the attention of First Lady Laura Bush and her potential successor Cindy McCain on Monday.

The two visited the Minneapolis Convention Center, where the effort was assembled by Republican National Convention officials, Target Corp., FedEx Kinko's and the American Red Cross to help victims of Hurricane Gustav.

"This is what America is all about," McCain said. "We're the first to respond ... and the last to leave."

Organizers aim to have convention delegates and members of the public assemble up to 80,000 kits today and Wednesday. Kits will include toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and nonperishable food.

Target is providing $300,000 in supplies. FedEx Kinko's will ship the kits south, and the Red Cross will distribute them.

McCain and Bush chatted with volunteers and organizers.

"While we're here in Minneapolis-St. Paul we want to do things for people on the Gulf Coast," Bush said.

They drew attention to a website created to channel donations, www.causegreater.com.

Bush introduced a video produced with the help of Gulf State governors.

Delegates are also being given cards with information on how to donate money on behalf of the affected states.

Some state delegations are staging blood drives. But Jan McDaniel, chief executive officer of the Twin Cities Red Cross, cautioned that donations of perishable blood have to be carefully controlled to avoid waste.

She encouraged people to donate cash now and blood "next month."