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Tropical storm Isaac forces Republicans to scrap Day 1 of Tampa convention
A major tropical storm, threatening to gather hurricane force, has forced the Republican Party to scrap the opening day’s events of its four-day national convention that was slated to begin in Tampa, Florida on Monday.
Tropical Storm Isaac, looming off the Florida coast on Sunday, was set to make landfall later in the day even as an estimated 50,000 people, including about 4,500 delegates and alternates, were making their way to Tampa.
The convention will
formally declare Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee to take on President Obama. That ceremony, as per custom, will take place on the final day of the convention on Thursday.
The cancellation of the opening day’s proceedings came even as the National Hurricane Centre estimated that Isaac would be in the Gulf of Mexico by this evening, and its centre could threaten the Tampa Bay region by late Monday.
The delay and disruption notwithstanding, the Republicans sought to put up a brave face, with party leaders asserting that their message will not be a casualty of the storm.
“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,” said Republican National Committee chairman Reince Preibus, announcing cancellation of the opening day’s
programme, save for the formality of banging the gavel on proceedings and adjourning for the rest of the day.
A major tropical storm, threatening to gather hurricane force, has forced the Republican Party to scrap the opening day’s events of its four-day national convention that was slated to begin in Tampa, Florida on Monday.
Tropical Storm Isaac, looming off the Florida coast on Sunday, was set to make landfall later in the day even as an estimated 50,000 people, including about 4,500 delegates and alternates, were making their way to Tampa.
The convention will
formally declare Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee to take on President Obama. That ceremony, as per custom, will take place on the final day of the convention on Thursday.
The cancellation of the opening day’s proceedings came even as the National Hurricane Centre estimated that Isaac would be in the Gulf of Mexico by this evening, and its centre could threaten the Tampa Bay region by late Monday.
The delay and disruption notwithstanding, the Republicans sought to put up a brave face, with party leaders asserting that their message will not be a casualty of the storm.
“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,” said Republican National Committee chairman Reince Preibus, announcing cancellation of the opening day’s
programme, save for the formality of banging the gavel on proceedings and adjourning for the rest of the day.
