Aug 31, 2008 11:32 pm US/Eastern
Delegates Party With Hurricane On Their Mind
MINNEAPOLIS (CBS) ―
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Each of the Louisiana delegates at the delegate party wore red ribbons to honor their state as Hurricane Gustav heads toward Louisiana.
CBS
There was a genuine, party atmosphere at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Sunday night. About 8,000 people were in attendance to welcome delegates to the Twin Cities. But not everyone in attendance was getting into the festivities.
"We have to be here even though we would like to be back home doing something to help," said Lois Hoover. Hoover is here, but her heart is in New Orleans. She is a delegate from Louisiana.
Some of her fellow delegates went back home Sunday, too worried about their families and Hurricane Gustav's potential for disaster.
"We're torn. We feel like we really need to be there helping. We can't do a whole lot, everybody is evacuating. But yet we have a duty here, we've been elected as delegates," said Hoover.
Each of the Louisiana delegates at the party wore red ribbons to honor their state, and so far each delegate attending the party planned on fulfilling a commitment.
"I'd love to be down there helping them, but we have a commitment here too. It is a tough decision," said Louisiana Republican delegate Trent Newell.
Party-goers were disappointed President Bush won't be speaking Monday night, but they are glad he is making the hurricane a priority.
"It's something you can't control therefore you just go with it. And our focus is not going to be different. See what we can do to help the people, but we are still going to be united as a party," said Republican delegate Butch Davis of Texas.
Alternates will replace the Louisiana delegates that went home. Republicans are hopeful all 47 of Louisiana's delegate votes will be represented at the RNC. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was scheduled to speak at the convention, but has decided to stay home.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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