Republicans head to Twin Cities with 2 preoccupations: Palin and Gustav
Party officials discuss delaying the convention as the hurricane threatens the Gulf Coast. And reaction continues to pour in regarding McCain's surprise VP choice.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn.--Republicans from across the country began descending on the Twin Cities today for the party's national convention, but many eyes were elsewhere: on Hurricane Gustav and John McCain's surprise pick for vice president, Sarah Palin.
GOP officials have broached the possibility of delaying the convention, set to start Monday, for at least a few days if Gustav packs the wallop that is feared. Already, a pair of Republican governors, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Rick Perry of Texas, said they would cancel their prime-time convention appearances if Gustav slams the Gulf Coast.
Apart from humanitarian concerns, the party's image-makers are mindful of the public relations and political nightmare the hurricane could pose if pictures of partying delegates alternate with scenes of evacuees fleeing the storm.
The timing also brings back memories of a low point in the Bush administration: its bungled response to Hurricane Katrina, which swamped New Orleans three years ago this last Friday. The president's travel plans -- and a planned Monday night speech to the convention -- were also subject to Gustav's whims.
The stars of next week's convention, presumptive nominees-in-waiting McCain and Palin, who is the governor of Alaska, planned to campaign together again today, stumping in Pennsylvania. Their Democratic rivals, Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Joe Biden of Delaware, continued a Rust Belt swing, traveling across Ohio.
The two Democrats and their wives ate breakfast at the Yankee Kitchen, a diner in Boardman outside the old steel town of Youngstown. Obama briefly spoke about Hurricane Gustav, which is fast approaching the Louisiana coast.
"I've instructed my Senate staff to monitor the situation closely," Obama said. "We're praying for New Orleans, but we want to make sure that people are making all the necessary precautions."
The Obama camp responded to the selection of Palin with a new ad suggesting that despite the historic nature of her selection -- she is the first woman to run on a Republican ticket for the White House -- McCain's decision was merely a rubber stamp of the status quo.
"He's made his choice," the ad says of McCain. "But for the rest of us there's still no change."
The McCain campaign responded with a statement challenging Obama's judgment and readiness to be president.
