Gustav hits Republican convention

The Republicans have suspended most of their national convention as Hurricane Gustav approaches the US Gulf coast. The threat has prompted the mass evacuation of around 1.9 million people from the Louisiana coast. And more than 11.5 million residents in five US states could feel the impact of the fast-moving storm. New Orleans is like a ghost town after 95 per cent of the city's population responded to desperate calls by officials to evacuate. Only 10,000 people are believed to have stayed behind. The storm's winds are expected to hit around 125 mph making it a Category 3 storm, the US National Hurricane Centre said. Presidential hopeful John McCain said only those portions of his party's convention programme that are absolutely necessary to fulfil requirements will be held when it gets under way later. "This is a time when we have to do away with our party politics and we have to act as Americans," Mr McCain said. "Throughout our convention, we will act as Americans, not as Republicans." The Arizona senator is due to accept his party's presidential nomination on Thursday night. It is not known when Mr McCain will arrive in St Paul, Minnesota for the convention. The last-minute changes to the convention reflect a desire by Mr McCain and the Republicans to avoid the political damage that President George Bush suffered from his response to Hurricane Katrina three years ago. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama also turned his attention to Gustav and offered to tap his huge network of donors and volunteers to help any victims. After Mr McCain and his vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin received a briefing on hurricane preparations, he said: "I'm happy to report to you that the co-ordination and the work that's being done at all levels appears to be excellent. "I have every expectation that we will not see the mistakes of Katrina repeated." The Bush administration's handling of that storm contributed to a plunge in the president's approval ratings that helped the Democrats win control of the US Congress in 2006. McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said Monday's programme will be business only, adding: "We will refrain from any political rhetoric that would be traditional at an opening session of a convention." Plans for the rest of the week will be announced on a day-by-day basis as the situation with Gustav develops. President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have also scrapped plans to address the convention.

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ITN | September 1, 2008