John McCain and the GOP are considering scrapping political speeches and turning their Minnesota convention into a “service program” to help victims of Hurricane Gustav, The Post has learned.
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Sources told The Post that McCain himself might visit the Gulf Coast during the week of the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday. McCain is not scheduled to speak until Thursday.
The contingency plan – a worst-case scenario if the storm devastates Gulf Coast areas – would turn Republicans into Red Cross-type volunteers who would help collect donations, food and goods for storm victims.
McCain’s campaign motto is “Country First,” and he said helping people during an emergency will take precedence over accepting the nomination.
“It wouldn’t be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near-tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster,” McCain told Fox News today.
In the spring of 1999, McCain postponed the announcement of his candidacy for president because of Serbian massacres that triggered the war in Kosovo, his campaign noted.
A disastrous storm is a political nightmare for the GOP, with the potential to remind Americans of President Bush’s fumbled response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
McCain and his top aides were mulling the possibilities today as he and new running mate Sarah Palin stumped near Pittsburgh.
“We have plans for all possibilities,” said McCain communications director Jill Hazelbaker.
Gustav today was categorized a dangerous Category 4 hurricane and is gathering strength heading toward New Orleans.
Three Gulf Coast governors have already canceled or postponed trips to Minneapolis: Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal, Texas’ Rick Perry and Florida’s Charlie Crist.
The GOP convention is slated to kick off tomorrow in St. Paul with speeches by President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, Dick Cheney and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
An estimated 45,000 Republican delegates, visitors and members of the media are expected Thursday night to watch McCain formally accept the nomination at the Xcel Energy Center – the same location that Democratic nominee Barack Obama used to declare his primary victory over Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The GOP convention is scheduled to be an extravaganza of light and sound, organizers said, with “American Idols” Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry performing, among others.
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who campaigned against McCain in the primaries, is to deliver the convention’s keynote address Tuesday night. Prospective first lady Cindy McCain is slated to speak ahead of Alaska Gov. Palin on Wednesday night.