Republican National Convention scaled back; local party leaders supportive

by John Paul (jpaul@wsbt.com)

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Delegates from Louisiana bow their head during invocation at the start of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Monday, Sept. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Sep 1, 2008 at 4:25 PM EST

Story Updated: Sep 1, 2008 at 6:11 PM EST

SOUTH BEND — The show will go on for Republicans in St. Paul this week, with the party set to announce Arizona Senator John McCain as the party's presidential nominee, but it will happen at a limited capacity.

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As Gustav barreled toward the Gulf Coast, McCain announced he was scaling back plans at the convention, instead focusing on the victims and the devastation from the storm.

As Gustav made its way through the Gulf as a Category 3 storm, President Bush and Vice President Cheney announced they would not attend day one of the RNC.

With the emphasis placed on the victims, local Republicans have unanimously supported the party's efforts.

"This is the most important story in America right now," said Chris Riley, St. Joseph County Republican Party Chair.

Riley said the storm will take away some of the talk about the convention but said it was a smart move.

"This is not the appropriate time to have the cocktail party and the big speeches that are blasting the other side," said Riley. "This is the time to focus on Louisiana."

CNN polls show this is a critical time for the party. Obama and McCain are neck and neck in the polls. Obama has a one percentage point lead over McCain.

"I hope even if it leads to less exposure people will notice that Sen. McCain and the organizers had their priorities in the right place," said Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. "He did the right thing even if there is a cost."

Both Riley and Daniels believe the next few weeks following the RNC will be spent campaigning across key battleground states: Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.

"Our time will come for us to get our message out," said Riley.

Riley said the grassroots campaigning will also allow the nation to get to learn more about Gov. Sarah Palin and their party's platform.

"They're going to go out to the American people and say what they are going to do to lower gas prices," said Riley. "They will say what they are going to do to keep Americans safe from abroad and within."

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