ST. PAUL, Minn. — President Bush will skip the Republican National Convention because of Hurricane Gustav and instead plans to address the nation on Monday night instead of his farewell speech to the party faithful, organizers told Politico.
The convention is being radically curtailed. Vice President Cheney will also stay in Washington, officials said. A third speaker scheduled for Monday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarenegger, will remain in the state to deal with a budget crisis.
The cancellations are a crushing disappointment for organizers who have spent more than a year planning the convention, and is a huge setback to a party that had hoped to use the convention to lift the spirits of supporters and reach out to swing voters.
The planned address by Bush is part of a scramble by the Republican Party, the White House and McCain campaign officials to retool the convention, which begins Monday in St. Paul.
First lady Laura Bush still plans to attend on Monday, the White House said.
If Gustav hits with anything like the ferocity that is forecast, the convention will have a radically altered tone and program.
Although exact plans have not been set, officials say delegates are likely to conduct a giant telethon to raise money for hurricane relief.
Delegates also may pack care packages for distribution if Gustav hits the U.S. coastline.
Republican officials say they face the possibility that they will have little chance of breaking through the hurricane coverage with their message.
But they're anxious to show concern and not look out of touch the way the Bush administration did after Hurricane Katrina, three years ago.
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