TAMPA -- Mitt Romney's campaign on Sunday laid out an updated three-day Republican National Convention schedule that incorporated a number of speakers whose Monday sessions had been cancelled due to Tropical Storm Isaac. Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Romney campaign strategist Russ Schriefer said the convention managed to fit all of Monday's "headliners" into the condensed schedule, including former Democrat-turned Republican Rep. Artur Davis (Ala.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Schriefer said Monday's theme, "We Can Do Better," intended to highlight the "failed leadership" of President Barack Obama, "can easily be put into our entire program ... so that all becomes part of our overall theme [for the week]."
Schriefer did not elaborate on how that theme would be incorporated into the rest of the week. Romney campaign strategists had initially hoped to use Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to reintroduce their candidate and the party's platform to voters.
The message meld was only the latest headache resulting from Isaac, a tropical storm now threatening New Orleans with a potential Category 2 Hurricane later this week.
As the wind picked up Sunday in Tampa, shaking the palm fronds, questions remained about how Republicans intend to carry out a successful partisan celebration while millions of Americans remain in danger from the storm.
Schriefer deflected questions about how Isaac would affect the plans or tone of the convention going forward.
"Our concern is with the people in the path of the storm," he said. "As soon as we have any information it will be taken into consideration, but until we know [something new], we're going to continue with our Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday schedule."
Asked about a possible Friday session to make up for lost time, Schriefer said, "It's a hypothetical question and I don't want to answer it" that way.
Shriefer also unveiled plans to start a special "debt-clock" Monday, beginning at the official gavel set to open the convention at 2 p.m. The digital clock resembles a stop-watch and will log the growth of the national debt second by second. It will run until the convention ends, a move Republicans hope will help highlight how much the debt grows in just a four-day period.
Poster Comment:
Looks to me like Jesus isn't too pleased with the GOP. 2 GOP conventions in a row rescheduled due to an 'Act of Gawd'!
