By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Reuters) - Republicans open theirconvention on Monday to nominate presidential candidate JohnMcCain with no pomp and little politics, shelving the usualcelebration out of deference to the approaching threat ofHurricane Gustav.
Fearing televised images of Republican festivities would beinappropriate as a killer storm slammed the Gulf Coast, McCainand his party will hold a curtailed business-only session forabout two hours on the convention's opening day.
McCain visited a hurricane command centre on Sunday. Hedoes not want to risk comparisons to President George W. Bush,who was seen as out of touch and was heavily criticized for hisfailure to respond to the devastation of Hurricane Katrinathree years ago.
"I have every expectation that we will not see the mistakesof Katrina repeated," McCain said by satellite from St. Louison Sunday after being briefed on storm preparations in theregion.
The four-day Republican convention will nominate McCain andhis vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, toface Democratic rival Barack Obama and his No. 2, Delaware Sen.Joe Biden, in the November 4 presidential election.
The convention opens four days after Obama concluded theDemocratic convention with an acceptance speech before 75,000flag-waving supporters in Denver's open-air football stadium.
Republican officials would not predict when or even if theremainder of the convention would proceed, and McCain told NBCNews he might deliver his acceptance speech on Thursday viasatellite from the Gulf Coast.
BUSH AND CHENEY CANCEL
Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney had cancelled theirappearances at the convention even before the schedule wasreduced. The White House said Bush might address the conventionlater in the week.
Monday's schedule will include the formal opening of theconvention and official business that must be conductedaccording to party rules, said Rick Davis, McCain's campaignmanager.
The convention program also will include some time devotedto making delegates and viewers aware of what they can do toassist relief efforts, Davis said.
McCain's campaign chartered an airplane to ferry delegatesfrom Gulf Coast states back home to prepare for the storm.
Both camps struggled with the political implications of thestorm, trying to appear responsive without appearing to bepolitical opportunists. Most polls show Obama and McCain in aclose race. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp poll released on Sundaynight showed Obama leading McCain by 49 percent to 48 percent,a statistical dead heat after last week's Democratic conventionand McCain's surprise selection of Palin.
The party meetings are a prime opportunity for candidatesto make their cases for election to a general public that isjust beginning to tune in, and the loss of one or more dayscould be a blow to McCain.
But Monday is Labour Day in the United States, a nationalholiday that would make for a smaller television audience forthe Republican convention as many Americans will be away fromtheir televisions and celebrating with family and friends.
Some Republicans hoped McCain could benefit bydemonstrating a strong and compassionate response to theGustav. The cancellations by Bush and Cheney, who are unpopularwith the public although not with the Republican Party base,also could benefit McCain.
"We don't have the luxury of trying to evaluate thepolitics of this situation," Davis told reporters.
Obama said he would not visit the storm site at this timeto avoid placing a strain on emergency service providers in theregion. But he promised to help supporters on his 2 millionstrong e-mail list become involved in aid efforts in theregion.
(Editing by Patricia Zengerle)
