State GOP shifts gears at convention, focuses on Gustav relief fundraising

As Hurricane Gustav rips into the southern coast, Illinois Republicans shifted gears in the Twin Cities to raise funds for relief efforts.

"A lot of us have family and friends who live in that region," said state Rep. Jim Durkin, a Western Springs Republican who chairs John McCain's Illinois campaign. "We just need to keep these families and communities in our hearts and prayers over these next few days."

Local GOP delegates found a truncated morning breakfast void of political talk and barbs at Barack Obama. Later today, the delegation's nightly party will be turned into a fundraiser for hurricane victims.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear if the convention will resume a regular schedule after the hurricane hits. Republicans are looking to see the extent of the damage to determine whether it will be appropriate to swing back into party mode for the remainder of the week.

President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were scheduled to speak Monday night, but the entire nightly program has been scrapped.

McCain was scheduled to accept the party's nomination Thursday night, but that remains up in the air.

On the Illinois front, big name Republicans were absent from this morning's breakfast, including former Governors Jim Edgar and Jim Thompson, as the hurricane tames most political events.

In addition to fundraising, other Illinois Republican's are making their own moves to strengthen relief efforts.

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, who was set for a short speech tonight, plans to leave today and head back to Northbrook to collect relief supplies.

"This is the hurricane relief convention," Kirk said before this morning's breakfast meeting.