Cindy McCain to speak to delegates tonight

ST. PAUL — Cindy McCain will give a “low-key” address to delegates Monday night, suggesting a Republican National Convention thrown off-course by Hurricane Gustav may be taking a turn toward the normal.

{mosads}Rick Davis, campaign manager for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), announced the presidential candidate’s wife would make the appearance during a press call Monday. President Bush and Vice President Cheney were among the heavyweights originally tabbed to appear, but they cancelled because of the hurricane threatening the Gulf Coast.

First lady Laura Bush also will appear to introduce a video honoring the delegates at the convention, the campaign announced. Bush will appear at the conclusion of the "business only" convention session that was announced on Sunday.   

The video is meant to thank delegates who are helping to assist in the relief effort. It will feature governors from the Gulf States and will start late this afternoon. 

Parties at the convention have been turned into fundraisers for hurricane evacuees, and Monday’s events at the convention site were cancelled aside from the business meeting.

Davis and Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan said convention planners will continue to take the schedule "one day at a time." The two also announced the creation of a series of initiatives that will turn the convention into a full-scale relief effort to assist those affected by Hurricane Gustav.

Davis and Duncan said they plan to open a phone bank in the Hilton hotel in Minneapolis where delegates, their families and friends can volunteer to help raise money for the relief effort in the Gulf Coast. A control center has also been opened inside the Xcel Center where delegates can get up to the minute information on the status of the affected areas. A Gulf State working group to help coordinate relief efforts has also been created.

Davis also said the GOP will partner with Target to create and ship 80,000 "comfort packages" to those affected by the storm. An assembly center will open on Wednesday and Thursday where delegates and convention volunteers can help put together the packages which will contain items like toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap.

Davis said no monetary goal has been set in an effort to keep the convention politically neutral for the time being.