Isaac Forces RNC to Delay Start of Tampa Convention to Tuesday

3
>>Follow Matzav On Whatsapp!<<

gop-conventionRepublican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus announced today that the GOP would cancel Monday’s convention events due to Tropical Storm Isaac.

Priebus said that the convention would convene on Monday August 27th and immediately recess until Tuesday afternoon on August 28th.

“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 Priebus in a written statement.

“The Republican National Convention will take place and officially nominate Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, and the Party has other necessary business it must address,” he added. “We also are remaining in constant contact with state and federal officials and may make additional schedule alterations as needed.”

Immediately following Priebus’s announcement, the White House said Vice President Joe Biden had postponed his entire trip to Florida scheduled next week.

On Friday the White House cancelled Biden’s swing through Tampa on Monday. He had been expected to attend campaign stops in Orlando and St. Augustine on Tuesday.

“This change in schedule is being taken to ensure that all law enforcement and emergency management resources across the state can continue their focus on ensuring the safety of those who might be impacted by the storm,” his office said in a statement.

Isaac is expected to reach hurricane force strength before passing the Florida Keys early Sunday morning. The National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning for the Keys and portions of Florida’s west coast on Saturday.

The threat from the storm forced the RNC to make the abrupt change to their convention schedule, but both Priebus and Romney campaign officials insisted that they would be able to organize a successful convention.

In a conference call with reporters Saturday afternoon, Russ Schriefer, a Romney senior strategist, said the campaign did not view the delay as a setback.

“We will absolutely be able to get our message out,” he said on the call. “We think we can absolutely do it in three [days], and we look forward to telling the story.”

Bill Harris, the Republican National Convention CEO said that the decision came “out of an abundance of caution.”

“We want to make sure everybody who attends the convention is safe and we want to make sure everyone who lives in Florida is not necessarily hindered,” said Harris, who was also on the call.

He added that convention organizers were looking “forward to a great start on Tuesday. We can’t think of any reason operationally why that wouldn’t happen.”

Priebus told reporters that the decision to cancel Monday’s events was “unanimous” and was taken among “members of the RNC, Romney staff, and officials who are conducting the convention.”

“We are going to begin issuing revised convention programing as early as Sunday,” he said.

The decision leaves convention organizers with many logistical issues, including rescheduling speakers as well as insuring the safety of all attendees.

Former Govs. Jeb Bush (Fla.), Mike Huckabee (Ark.) as well as current Govs. Nikki Haley (S.C.), Bob McDonnell (Va.) and Florida’s Rick Scott were among those scheduled to speak on Monday.

Scott declared a state of emergency, a step that will help federal and state officials coordinate their response.

He also cancelled plans to speak at the convention and said he would remain in Tallahassee to organize emergency relief efforts.

Read more at THE HILL.

{Matzav.com Newscenter}


3 COMMENTS

  1. What a bunch of babies, these Rebuplicans are! Is this who you want representing us? What a bunch of losers! Afraid of a little rain?!

  2. This migt sound like a joke but I’m serious. Since Issac was the one to create Mincha, I think we should all daven Mincha extra erlich today So no one get’s hurt by this storm.

Leave a Reply to Jerome Cancel reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here