Everett, Wash.
Published: Monday, September 1, 2008

GOP cuts back convention to defer to Gustav

Associated Press

 ST. PAUL, Minn. -- John McCain scrapped the script for the Republican National Convention on Sunday, casting himself as above politics as Hurricane Gustav churned toward New Orleans. Aides said today's program would be short and shorn of political rhetoric.

"This is a time when we have to do away with our party politics, and we have to act as Americans," McCain said as fellow Republicans converged on their convention city to nominate him for the White House.

"I have every expectation that we will not see the mistakes of Katrina repeated," he said.

President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney canceled plans to address the convention tonight, although he still may take part by video feed. First lady Laura Bush is in Minnesota and will join McCain's wife, Cindy, at the convention podium today to describe ways to help victims of the storm.

McCain told NBC that it was possible he would make his acceptance speech not from the convention podium but via satellite from the Gulf Coast region.

The formal business of the convention includes nominating McCain for president and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate Wednesday. McCain's acceptance speech, set for prime time Thursday evening, is among the most critical events of the campaign for his chances of winning the White House.

The hasty reordering of an event months in the planning was unprecedented, affecting not only the program on the podium but the accompanying fundraising, partying and other political activity that unfolds around the edges of a national political convention.

McCain said he was looking forward to being at the convention but did not say when he would arrive. He spoke from St. Louis after he and Palin received a briefing on hurricane preparations on a quick visit to Jackson, Miss.

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis told reporters inside the convention hall that the opening program on Monday would be "business only and will refrain from political rhetoric."

To help those in need, he said, "We are working with the delegations, financial people, finance committees, many other concerned individuals to do what we can to raise money for various charities that operate in the Gulf Coast region."

McCain said of his briefing in Mississippi: "I'm happy to report to you that the coordination and the work that's being done at all levels appears to be excellent." He cited remaining challenges in communications and search-and-rescue operations, but he emphasized that the response seemed to be going more smoothly than the one three years ago.

Later, at a rally with McCain outside St. Louis, Palin said, "There are consequences when government fails to make good on its most basic obligations, and this is true not just in times of crisis.

"Every day the decisions of government can make lives better for our people or worse, add to their burdens or lighten them and strengthen the security of our nation or diminish that security," she said.

"I pledge that tomorrow night, and if necessary throughout our convention, we will act as Americans, not as Republicans," McCain said.
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