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| Republican convention set to open | Republican convention set to open |
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| The US Republican Party is preparing to open a national convention that has been scaled back because of the threat of Hurricane Gustav to the Gulf Coast. | The US Republican Party is preparing to open a national convention that has been scaled back because of the threat of Hurricane Gustav to the Gulf Coast. |
| Senator John McCain, due to accept his party's nomination for president at the event in St Paul, Minnesota, said it was no time for party politics. | Senator John McCain, due to accept his party's nomination for president at the event in St Paul, Minnesota, said it was no time for party politics. |
| The party will conduct only official business on the first day and review other events as the week goes on. | The party will conduct only official business on the first day and review other events as the week goes on. |
| President George W Bush cancelled his planned opening night speech. | President George W Bush cancelled his planned opening night speech. |
| Meanwhile Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, nominated as Mr McCain's running mate, said in a statement on Monday that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter was pregnant. | |
| The mother-of-five, who is opposed to abortion, said her teenage daughter would marry the father of the child and would "have the love and support of our entire family". | |
| 'America first' | |
| Vice-President Dick Cheney has also dropped plans to address the convention on Monday because he is going ahead with a trip to Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Italy, the White House said. | Vice-President Dick Cheney has also dropped plans to address the convention on Monday because he is going ahead with a trip to Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Italy, the White House said. |
| First Lady Laura Bush, also due to speak on the first night, will now introduce a series of video interviews with governors of the states affected by Gustav. | First Lady Laura Bush, also due to speak on the first night, will now introduce a series of video interviews with governors of the states affected by Gustav. |
| Mr McCain helped volunteers pack boxes of supplies for hurricane victimsMr McCain's wife, Cindy, will then appeal to delegates to give donations and support for hurricane relief efforts after the storm has passed, campaign aides said. | Mr McCain helped volunteers pack boxes of supplies for hurricane victimsMr McCain's wife, Cindy, will then appeal to delegates to give donations and support for hurricane relief efforts after the storm has passed, campaign aides said. |
| After returning from a tour of relief preparations in Mississippi on Sunday, Mr McCain said convention delegates had to put partisan politics aside and think of their country. | After returning from a tour of relief preparations in Mississippi on Sunday, Mr McCain said convention delegates had to put partisan politics aside and think of their country. |
| "This is an overwhelming thing. Let's hope and pray that it's not going to be so severe," he told NBC television on Monday. | "This is an overwhelming thing. Let's hope and pray that it's not going to be so severe," he told NBC television on Monday. |
| "This is just one of those moments in history where you have to put America first." | "This is just one of those moments in history where you have to put America first." |
| Damage limitation | Damage limitation |
| McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said the Republicans would work out how to proceed with the four-day convention on a day-to-day basis depending on the situation on the Gulf Coast. | McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said the Republicans would work out how to proceed with the four-day convention on a day-to-day basis depending on the situation on the Gulf Coast. |
| Gustav has been downgraded to a Category Two hurricane, but "extremely dangerous" storm surges are expected along the southern US coast. | Gustav has been downgraded to a Category Two hurricane, but "extremely dangerous" storm surges are expected along the southern US coast. |
| It comes three years after Hurricane Katrina struck as a Category Three storm, killing more than 1,800 people and resulting in huge damage to New Orleans and elsewhere. I incurred great loss in Katrina, but my view is that the show must go on Convention diary: Show goes on | It comes three years after Hurricane Katrina struck as a Category Three storm, killing more than 1,800 people and resulting in huge damage to New Orleans and elsewhere. I incurred great loss in Katrina, but my view is that the show must go on Convention diary: Show goes on |
| Instead of the planned gala night opening, Monday's convention business is expected to be low-key and last only a couple of hours. | Instead of the planned gala night opening, Monday's convention business is expected to be low-key and last only a couple of hours. |
| Mrs Bush told US television network CBS that those Republicans in St Paul for the convention were disappointed but understood the need to focus on the hurricane threat. | Mrs Bush told US television network CBS that those Republicans in St Paul for the convention were disappointed but understood the need to focus on the hurricane threat. |
| Speaking to US network CNN, she said the government's response would be "a lot better" than it had been for Hurricane Katrina. | Speaking to US network CNN, she said the government's response would be "a lot better" than it had been for Hurricane Katrina. |
| "Lessons learned from Katrina have served the United States very well," she said. | "Lessons learned from Katrina have served the United States very well," she said. |
| The BBC's Adam Brookes, in Minnesota for the convention, says the Republicans are keen to avoid the kind of political damage incurred by the Bush administration's clumsy response to Hurricane Katrina three years ago. | The BBC's Adam Brookes, in Minnesota for the convention, says the Republicans are keen to avoid the kind of political damage incurred by the Bush administration's clumsy response to Hurricane Katrina three years ago. |
| The party clearly cannot afford to be seen hosting glamorous political events while the people of New Orleans are once again fleeing their city, he says. | The party clearly cannot afford to be seen hosting glamorous political events while the people of New Orleans are once again fleeing their city, he says. |
| On Monday, Mr McCain helped volunteers in Waterville, Ohio, pack boxes of emergency relief supplies to be sent to people affected by Gustav. | On Monday, Mr McCain helped volunteers in Waterville, Ohio, pack boxes of emergency relief supplies to be sent to people affected by Gustav. |
| Some 80,000 "comfort packages" including items such as soap and toothpaste are also to be assembled on the floor of the convention centre in St Paul from Wednesday, Republican officials said. | Some 80,000 "comfort packages" including items such as soap and toothpaste are also to be assembled on the floor of the convention centre in St Paul from Wednesday, Republican officials said. |
| Donor list | Donor list |
| The business of the Republican convention includes, on Wednesday, the formal nomination of Mr McCain for president and Mrs Palin as his running mate. | The business of the Republican convention includes, on Wednesday, the formal nomination of Mr McCain for president and Mrs Palin as his running mate. |
| Plainly the backdrop of images of destruction reminding Americans of Katrina will be horrible for the Republicans BBC North America editor Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in full | Plainly the backdrop of images of destruction reminding Americans of Katrina will be horrible for the Republicans BBC North America editor Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in full |
| Mr McCain's acceptance speech, scheduled for prime time on Thursday evening, is deemed to be among the most important events of the campaign for his chances of winning the White House in November. | Mr McCain's acceptance speech, scheduled for prime time on Thursday evening, is deemed to be among the most important events of the campaign for his chances of winning the White House in November. |
| The head of the Republican National Committee said the convention would on Monday meet to establish a quorum, adopt convention rules, elect officers and approve the party platform. | The head of the Republican National Committee said the convention would on Monday meet to establish a quorum, adopt convention rules, elect officers and approve the party platform. |
| Over the weekend, Mr McCain's campaign chartered a jet to fly worried delegates back to their home states threatened by the hurricane. | Over the weekend, Mr McCain's campaign chartered a jet to fly worried delegates back to their home states threatened by the hurricane. |
| Meanwhile, Democratic nominee Barack Obama said that, if needed, he would open up his vast donor list to channel money or volunteers to help recovery efforts following Gustav. | Meanwhile, Democratic nominee Barack Obama said that, if needed, he would open up his vast donor list to channel money or volunteers to help recovery efforts following Gustav. |