Republicans shift focus to helping storm victims

REPUBLICANS scrambled to turn the first day of their national convention into a fundraising drive for hurricane victims yesterday, with presidential candidate John McCain’s wife and first lady Laura Bush appealing for Gulf Coast help while McCain visited a disaster relief centre in Ohio.

Party officials in St Paul kept a watchful eye on still-dangerous Hurricane Gustav yesterday to decide next steps for their shortened convention. They said they still expected McCain to address the convention at Thursday night’s finale.

McCain’s wife, Cindy, and Mrs Bush would make remarks “directed toward the storm and where to send donations,” said Doug McCain, one of the presidential candidate’s sons.