The storm-shortened Republican National Convention which begins in earnest today will be a three-day coronation of Mitt Romney as the party’s rival to President Barack Obama.

The centre of Tropical Storm Isaac’s projected path is heading directly for New Orleans and could make landfall as early as tonight, nearly seven years to the day after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.

Tropical Storm Isaac churned across the Gulf of Mexico yesterday, disrupting US offshore energy production and threatening to hit Louisiana on the anniversary of the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Republican National Committee officials are releasing a three-day schedule for the party’s national convention, shortened because of Tropical Storm Isaac.

Tropical Storm Isaac gained fresh muscle today as it neared the Florida Keys, threatening to be at or near hurricane strength approaching the island chain.

Tropical Storm Isaac swept across Haiti’s southern peninsula today, bringing flooding and at least three deaths while adding to the misery of a poor nation still trying to recover from the 2010 earthquake.

Republican delegates will begin the roll call vote to officially nominate Mitt Romney for president on Monday at the national convention in Tampa.