Convention parties to become hurricane-relief events

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL — Nervous Republicans in the Twin Cities are planning to turn their convention parties into major hurricane-relief efforts.

As Hurricane Gustav headed for the Gulf Coast, Republicans on Saturday held conference calls to discuss how to handle planned parties.

{mosads}Republicans are well aware that the appearance of festive celebrations while Gulf Coast residents are fleeing their homes could be a political disaster — especially in the wake of the failed response to Hurricane Katrina three years ago.

There are dozens of scheduled parties in the Twin Cities this week, including a Southern delegation gathering Sunday night featuring singer Sammy Hagar. On Monday, there is a scheduled New Orleans All-Star Jam-Balaya with actor John Larroquette. Also on Monday night is also a scheduled fundraiser for Katrina recovery victims.

A GOP operative who was on the calls on Saturday indicated the parties will go on, but their focus will change and they will raise a significant amount of money for the Gulf Coast.

Meanwhile, President Bush and Vice President Cheney will not attend the convention because of Gustav. Bush will monitor the hurricane from Texas while Cheney is expected to leave on Tuesday for a four-country trip that includes a stop in Georgia.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may also not attend though that final decision will be made later this week. If McCain does not appear at the GOP convention, he would likely make a videotaped speech that would be shown to the delegates and broadcasted on the networks.

Politicians on the Sunday talk shows emphasized that their top priority is Gustav.

One of McCain's closest allies wouldn't rule out a delay to the GOP convention.

"The goal is to make sure that you take the conservative approach, that we're not seen to be out of touch with people who could have everything they worked for lost," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on ABC's "This Week." "And no one here, no one in Sen. McCain's inner circle, wants to do anything to be insensitive to what is coming. And I think what is coming is a major blow to the Gulf Coast."

"And the goal is to make sure we get it right, that we let the country know, the people on the Gulf Coast know… that we're not going to do anything here [at the convention] inappropriate," Graham said.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said on "Face the Nation" that McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin are headed to Mississippi to "assess how preparations are going."

Giuliani said Gustav "threatens to be worse than Katrina," adding that "we have to make sure the focus is on the South, on Gustav."

He also noted that McCain "was quite critical of our response to Katrina."

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), who is scheduled to address the convention, said "the convention has important public business to do" and that "we are 1000 percent better prepared today than we were before Katrina."

Andy Barr and Walter Alarkon contributed to this report.