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Republican convention to resume Republican convention to resume
(about 4 hours later)
The US Republican Party's national convention is due to return to its main agenda now that the threat from Hurricane Gustav has passed. The US Republican Party's convention is due to resume its main agenda now that Hurricane Gustav's threat has passed.
The gathering in St Paul, Minnesota, will see John McCain nominated as the Republicans' presidential candidate.The gathering in St Paul, Minnesota, will see John McCain nominated as the Republicans' presidential candidate.
President George W Bush is due to address the convention via videolink from the White House in the evening.
The main talking point so far has been the announcement by Mr McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, that her unmarried teenage daughter is pregnant.
Most of the first day's political events were suspended out of respect for communities affected by Gustav.Most of the first day's political events were suspended out of respect for communities affected by Gustav.
Instead, Mr McCain's wife, Cindy, and First Lady Laura Bush made calls to support those under threat.Instead, Mr McCain's wife, Cindy, and First Lady Laura Bush made calls to support those under threat.
Gustav was downgraded to a tropical storm after making landfall west of New Orleans, where hundreds of thousands of people had been evacuated over the weekend. Mrs Bush told delegates that such events transcended party politics and reminded people that they were Americans first.
The hurricane came three years after Hurricane Katrina struck, killing more than 1,800 people and resulting in huge damage to New Orleans and elsewhere. Laura Bush and Cindy McCain make appeal
Instead of the planned gala night opening, Monday's convention business was low-key and lasted only a couple of hours. "Events in the Gulf Coast region have changed the focus of our attention and the first priority is to ensure the safety and the well being of those living in the Gulf Coast region," she said.
President George W Bush had cancelled his planned opening night speech at the weekend amid concerns that overt political campaigning would play badly with voters at a time of potential crisis. Gustav was downgraded to a tropical storm after making landfall west of New Orleans, where hundreds of thousands of people had been evacuated.
Monday also saw vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin confirm that her unmarried teenage daughter was pregnant. The hurricane came three years after Hurricane Katrina struck, killing more than 1,800 people and resulting in huge damage to the city and its surrounding area. President Bush was strongly criticised over his handling of the crisis.
Mrs Palin, the Alaska governor presented as Mr McCain's choice for running mate on Friday, said her daughter Bristol, 17, planned to have the baby and would be getting married. Palin talking point
The mother-of-five, who is opposed to abortion, said her daughter would "have the love and support of our entire family" and appealed for privacy for the young couple. The BBC's Adam Brookes in St Paul says the Republican Party convention is now getting down to work after the uncertainty brought on by Hurricane Gustav.
Meanwhile, police in St Paul used pepper spray as they arrested more than 100 protesters, some of whom threw bottles and broke windows. Many of those involved in the violence identified themselves to the Associated Press news agency as anarchists. Tuesday's events will focus on Mr McCain, a concentrated piece of political image building with a keynote speech from Joe Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-independent senator, who has decided to support the party's candidate, our correspondent says.
Mr McCain spent Monday helping pack supplies for hurricane victims 'Stormy' dilemma for RepublicansRepublican Convention diary
President Bush will also address the convention via a live video feed from Washington. He cancelled his planned opening night speech amid concerns that overt political campaigning would play badly with voters at a time of potential crisis.
But many Republicans will be glad he is not here in St Paul in person, our correspondent says, and much of this week will be about defining Mr McCain as very different to his unpopular predecessor.
Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska who was presented as Mr McCain's choice for running mate on Friday and is facing an ethics investigation back in her home state, made the announcement of her unmarried daughter's pregnancy on Monday.
She said Bristol, 17, planned to have the baby and would be getting married.
Mrs Palin, who is opposed to abortion, said her daughter would "have the love and support of our entire family" and appealed for privacy for the young couple.
The news of Sarah Palin's daughter's pregnancy is gut-wrenching for Republicans BBC North America editor Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in fullTeenage pregnancy in spotlight
Our correspondent says her selection as vice-presidential candidate has caused great excitement among social conservatives and evangelical Christians here.
But across the broader Republican Party there seems to be some unease - she is an unknown quantity, and when she is finally brought out onto the convention stage on Wednesday, many McCain supporters will be crossing their fingers and hoping she performs, he adds.
The 72-year-old Arizona senator is expected to formally accept his candidacy in a prime-time speech on Thursday evening.
The speech is deemed to be among the most important events of the campaign for his chances of winning the White House in November.
Meanwhile on Monday, police in St Paul used pepper spray as they arrested more than 100 protesters, some of whom threw bottles and broke windows. Many of those involved in the violence identified themselves to the Associated Press as anarchists.
Several thousand anti-war marchers had earlier demanded the return of US troops from Iraq.Several thousand anti-war marchers had earlier demanded the return of US troops from Iraq.
On Wednesday, Mr McCain and Mrs Palin are due to be formally nominated as running partners, and the 72-year-old Arizona senator is expected to formally accept his candidacy in a prime-time speech on Thursday evening.
That speech is deemed to be among the most important events of the campaign for his chances of winning the White House in November.