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GOP may delay start of convention because of hurricane

    by Will Bunch | Columnist
    Published 

A couple of days ago I noted that aside from the human impact on the Gulf Coast that we all fear, Hurricane Gustav might have a political impact as well by arriving at the start of the GOP convention in St. Paul. That said, I didn't expect this potential development:

Republican officials said yesterday that they are considering delaying the start of the GOP convention in Minneapolis because of Tropical Storm Gustav, which is on track to hit the Gulf Coast, and possibly New Orleans, as a full-force hurricane early next week.
The threat is serious enough that White House officials are also debating whether President Bush should cancel a scheduled convention appearance on Monday, the first day of the convention, according to administration officials and others familiar with the discussion.
For Bush and Republican presidential nominee John McCain, Gustav is threatening to become this year's Hurricane Katrina. A major storm along the Gulf Coast would provide an untimely reminder of one of the low points of the Bush administration, while pulling public attention away from McCain's formal coronation as the GOP presidential nominee.

If the worst-case scenario with the storm does come to pass, a postponement would be the smartest decision that the GOP has made in years. The arrival of a major storm in the Gulf is not a time for any kind of politics -- neither a GOP coronation nor Democratic carping about the handling of hurricanes past. Tonight, our prayers are with the people of that region, and if I learn any ways that folks here in Philly can help in more concrete ways, I promise I'll use Attytood as a venue to pass these along.