Hurricane may temper GOP attacks

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL — The looming crisis in New Orleans will hamper Republicans' ability to attack Sen. Barack Obama if there is a protracted delay in their national convention plans.

Republicans had hoped to define the Illinois Democrat as a left-wing legislator with a scant record of achievement and lacking the judgment to lead the country at a time of war and economic downturn.

{mosads}But Republicans are adjusting their strategy as Hurricane Gustav approaches New Orleans with the potential to inflict more damage than Hurricane Katrina did in 2005. They are moving cautiously and trying to avoid the type of criticism President Bush endured three years ago for responding slowly to the natural disaster.

The GOP does not want to appear to be playing politics as a part of the country sustains a crisis. Rick Davis, Sen. John McCain's campaign manager, said that Republicans will "refrain from any political rhetoric" until the storm has run its course.

On Monday, the GOP plans to conduct about two hours of official business and adjourn for the day, scrapping a series of primetime speeches designed for a national audience. It's unclear if McCain (R-Ariz.) will attend the convention, and what the agenda will be after Monday.

"This doesn't help us," said Ron Bonjean, a Republican strategist, "because Hurricane Gustav takes away from our efforts to continue to define Barack Obama. That's difficult to do in a middle of a storm."

But Bonjean said McCain could benefit since the national spotlight will stay on the presumptive GOP nominee as he performs presidential tasks, like monitoring the situation and responding to the plight of residents affected by the storms.

"That's better than saying you have goals — you are actually performing them," Bonjean said.

Similarly, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain's running mate, remains unknown to most of America. Strategists say the GOP could benefit if voters see her responding to a national crisis.

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) made the case Sunday that McCain is best equipped to lead the country — whether it's acts of terrorism or natural disasters.

Appearing on Fox News, Coleman repeatedly cited the campaign theme of "country first" when describing efforts to prepare the Gulf Coast for Hurricane Gustav.

Another benefit for the GOP is the absence of Bush and Vice President Cheney, who both plan to skip the convention to respond to the storm. The two men are still very popular among convention-goers. But Democrats are trying to tie McCain to an administration that is deeply unpopular with much of the country.

Not all is safe for Obama, who still has to cede the national spotlight this week to the GOP. Plus if the storm passes or is not as bad as it is projected, the GOP convention will go on, and Republicans can still use much of the week to attack Obama.

Bob Cusack contributed to the story