( 4UMF NEWS ) Republican National Convention Delayed:
With Tropical Storm Isaac barrelling down Florida’s West Coast, Republican officials decided to “play it safe” and delay the kickoff of their National Convention from Monday to Tuesday.
“Our first priority is ensuring the safety of delegates, alternates, guests, members of the media attending the Republican National Convention, and citizens of the Tampa Bay area,” Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus said in a memo Saturday evening.
“RNC Convention officials and the Romney campaign are working closely with state, local and federal officials, as well as the Secret Service, to monitor Tropical Storm Isaac and preserve Florida’s emergency management resources.”
Tropical Storm Isaac located about 135 miles south-southwest of of Port au Prince, Haiti with maximum sustained winds at 60 mph. The system continues moving northwestward at 14 mph. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Haiti, while a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Hispaniola and the northern Caribbean Islands. Expect heavy rainfall and strong winds to develop across the Caribbean Islands as this system continues moving northwestward and into the eastern Gulf of Mexico over the weekend.
The convention will convene on Monday, but adjourn immediately until Tuesday.
As what was supposed to be a four-day confab gets condensed into three, the scheduling scramble is on to pack as many speakers and as much activity — including the all-important formal nomination of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan — as possible into the new timeframe.
Russ Schriefer, the convention’s producer, spun the situation toward the bright side during a conference call with reporters.
“We will absolutely be able to get our message out [and]tell [the]American people the story of the last four years,” Schriefer said.
