St. Paul, Minn. — Iowa Republicans said Sunday that John McCain's decision to scale back opening-day festivities for the Republican National Convention was the right tack in light of Hurricane Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast.

But some also noted that a lower-profile convention could diminish the bounce McCain will receive from it heading into the campaign's final two months.

"I certainly believe our attention needs to be on the hurricane," said Ann Trimble Ray, Sac County GOP chairwoman and a national convention delegate. "Having Iowans just go through a natural disaster, we're all very aware of what they are going through."

McCain campaign officials said Sunday that they would conduct only required convention business today and cancel the speaking program that had been scheduled to feature President Bush's speech.

Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and a slate of GOP governors canceled their speeches because of the storm.

McCain has called for the convention to serve as the hub of a national fundraising effort to raise money for hurricane relief.

Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley said it's the right decision to direct attention to the looming crisis.

"If I were senior leader of the national Republican Party, as I am in Iowa, and I had to call the shots, I would call them as they are and let people know the Republican Party cares about people in need," said Grassley, who plans to arrive in St. Paul on Tuesday.

Grassley also said losing an evening of prime-time television dedicated to promoting McCain and the Republican Party was a political risk the party should take under the circumstances.

"It's a move that has to be taken, regardless of the political consequences. You can't worry about that," Grassley said.

McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis, told reporters Sunday that it was premature to ask whether McCain would skip the convention.

Johnston Republican Dave Roederer, McCain's Iowa campaign chairman and a deputy convention chairman, said he expected McCain to attend the convention but noted that the speech he gives could be far different than the one he had planned to give.

"I think under any scenario he'll be addressing the convention," Roederer said. "Will it be a different type of speech? Yes, there is that potential."