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Monday, September 1, 2008 10:28 AM CDT
Iowa delegation prepares for abbreviated GOP convention
ST. PAUL, Minn. --- The Republican Party's decision to cut back on the first day of its convention here because of Hurricane Gustav is the right move, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Sunday, as other Iowans here went into the convention uncertain about what's to come next.
The Republicans announced mid-afternoon Sunday that the first day of the convention would consist of only essential items, such as calling the convention to order and approving a platform.
The prime time political speeches have been called off for the day, though.
Rick Davis, the campaign manager for John McCain, said at a briefing Sunday that after today's adjournment the schedule will be taken day by day.
Anything beyond Monday's adjournment is "speculation," he said.
He added McCain "has asked us to take our Republican hats off and put our American hats on."
Gustav is threatening the Gulf coast, prompting a massive evacuation. It is scheduled to make landfall tonight.
Iowa's delegation filtered into its hotel in Bloomington, southwest of St. Paul, uncertain of what the week would hold. Some learned of the changes after they arrived.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who plans to arrive Tuesday, said the decision to cut back is the right one, and about the only one that could be expected.
Monday's abbreviated session is expected to last 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
"You've got to take it day by day and they're doing the right thing," he said.
Asked about the potential political fallout, Grassley said ordinarily the opening night of a convention would feature sharp rhetoric. Now, it won't.
"Whether that damages McCain or not, it's something you have to forgo to let people know you're more concerned about people hurting than you're own political agenda," he said. He also took the occasion to note that people in Iowa still are hurting from the floods.
Sunday night, several Iowa delegates were off to an evening reception.
John Ortega, a delegate from Bettendorf, said he understood why the first day was cut back but a lot of people had made the trip here and he wished they'd gone forward as planned. "You make the best of it. What else can you do," he said.
Nathan Treloar, a spokesman for the Republican Party of Iowa, said speakers at the delegation's daily breakfast meetings this week are scheduled to include former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, ex-congressman J.C. Watts and Cindy McCain.
Thompson is scheduled to speak today.
The Democratic National Committee also is curtailing some its activities here. It has an operation here, as the RNC did last week in Denver, to counter the Republican's message. However, it cancelled a welcoming media reception planned for Sunday.
Contact Ed Tibbetts at newsroom@wcfcourier.com.
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