TAMPA — RNC Chairman Reince Priebus announced Saturday that the Republican National Convention will postpone its first day of speeches due to the expected arrival of Hurricane Isaac, now a tropical storm off the coast of Cuba.
“Due to the severe weather reports for the Tampa Bay area, the Republican National Convention will convene on Monday August 27th and immediately recess until Tuesday afternoon, August 28th," Priebus said in a statement. "After consulting with Governor Scott, NOAA and local emergency management officials, we are optimistic that we will begin an exciting, robust convention that will nominate the Romney-Ryan ticket.”
The convention did not immediate announce plans to reschedule the planned speeches, as well as the formal vote to make Mitt Romney the Republican Party's presidential nominee scheduled for Monday. According to Romney senior adviser Russ Schriefer, that vote will move to Tuesday.
Also at issue are the thousands of delegates, alternates, and guests who are staying in hotels potentially impacted by the storm along the Florida Gulf Coast. Priebus said alternate arrangements for them, as well as anyone delayed by travel, would be announced if needed on Sunday morning.
"We’re not going to put buses over the bridges from Clearwater and St. Pete [when their safety can't be assured]," Priebus said.
Despite the shortened schedule, Schriefer maintainted that the campaign "will absolutely be able to get [its] message out.”
A revised schedule of events will begin to be released on Sunday morning.