McCain camp keeps eye on Storm Gustav

US: JOHN McCAIN'S campaign said it is keeping watch on the path of Tropical Storm Gustav after a report that Republican officials are considering delaying the party's convention next week.

"We are monitoring the situation very closely," McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said as the storm headed for the US Gulf Coast. "[ Mr] McCain has always been sensitive to national crises."

The Republican convention, at which Mr McCain will be formally nominated, is scheduled for September 1st-4th in St Paul, Minnesota. The prospect of a major natural disaster hitting while Republicans are celebrating presents the party with a PR challenge.

There are reports that even if the convention goes ahead, the storm may lead President George Bush to cancel his opening address. Mr Bush was criticised for his slow response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. - (Bloomberg)

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