Eclipsed by Gustav, Pared-Down GOP Convention Begins

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Republicans opened their national convention Monday in all but name, stripping the first day's schedule to bare formalities as Hurricane Gustav commanded the nation's attention — and threatened to overshadow Sen. John McCain's week.

The gavel was set to fall at the Xcel Energy Center for a session lasting little more than two hours: the adoption of the party platform, routine reports and a call for donations to Gulf Coast relief. The political speeches, the pageantry and President Bush's prime-time address were all shelved.

"This is a time when we have to do away with our party hats and put on our American hats," McCain said via satellite from Missouri, where he visited a relief-supply center.

The first lady, Laura Bush, and Cindy McCain were to address the abbreviated session to urge delegates to contribute to hurricane relief. The campaign said it would decide day by day whether to resume the normal program, with McCain's own acceptance speech still set for Thursday.

The disruption was a brutal stroke of luck for a party that had hoped to use four days of carefully choreographed television to introduce its ticket and sharpen its case against Democrat Barack Obama. Instead, split screens showed Gustav's approach alongside empty seats.

It was also an uncomfortable reminder of Katrina, whose botched response became an emblem of the Bush years. Party strategists privately conceded the convention could not be seen celebrating while the Gulf Coast braced.

Sen. McCain's surprise running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was to be formally nominated this week. Her selection Friday dominated the political conversation — at least until the storm took over the news.

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Associated Press writers contributed to this report.

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