Luis Valdez, a Florida page, distributes booklets for Republican National Convention delegates Monday morning at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The majority of events for the first day were canceled due to Hurricane Gustav.
Brooklyn Park, Minn. — In response to Hurricane Gustav, the GOP scaled back its opening day activities at the Republican National Convention, possibly shifting its focus for the week.
On Monday, only official business was conducted at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., in response to the hurricane. The convention is operating on a day-to-day basis.
Although many of the week’s festivities will include fundraisers for hurricane victims, Benjamin Kleinerman, an MSU political analyst, said the attention on Gustav is a delayed piece of goodwill because of the heated criticism on how the Bush administration handled the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The convention’s leaders originally canceled all speakers for Monday, but first lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain, wife of presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., took the podium in a relatively somber opening.
“We are reminded that first we are all Americans,” Bush said.
“We hope the people of the Gulf Coast know the American people are here to do whatever we can to assist them.”
The Republican Party had to change its lineup, said Kleinerman, an assistant James Madison College professor and national elections expert.
“Whether it’s making amends or not, the timing of this, in the midst of this storm, given what happened three years ago and the way the Bush administration was perceived, they have to scale it back,” he said. “They have to be attentive to what’s going on.
“They couldn’t not scale it back.”
Outlook for McCain
Some Michigan delegates are wondering what the reduction in convention activities will mean for McCain.
“The Democrats had the opportunity to have four days and essentially we’re going to have less than that, which means we won’t be treated equally,” said Michigan Republican National Committeeman-Elect Keith Butler.
“But we’re not complaining. The circumstances are what they are. We’ll just have to explain our case to the American people more precisely, more succinctly.”
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said he’s not sure how the crisis in the Gulf Coast will play into McCain’s campaign.
“I think if most voters take a look at what he’s done, he’s probably been the most effective senator in terms of passing legislation over the past 15 to 20 years, and in that way he’s proved himself to be really competent,” Cox said Monday after speaking at the Michigan delegation breakfast.
Changes for state delegates
After the Republican National Committee announced Sunday that only official business would be conducted Monday, the Michigan delegation decided to make some changes to their plans as well.
Parties being held for the convention were turned into fundraiser parties for the American Red Cross. Cox held a party Sunday night with special guest Gordie Howe and a silent auction benefiting the Red Cross.
Monday night, state Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, and Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard were scheduled to host a party that also would benefit the Red Cross.
Suzanne Allen, Michigan delegation coordinator, said Michigan was the first state to organize a blood drive to benefit the region affected by Gustav.
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“We are encouraging not only our delegates, but delegates from other states to come and give blood,” Allen said.
The schedule for the Michigan delegation was adjusted according to the national committee’s schedule, she said.
“It’s just adding to the challenges of the week,” Allen said.
