Politics | Hurricane Gustav McCain Cancels Most Events on RNC's Day 1 But GOP eyes Gustav as opportunity for Katrina redemption By Polly Davis Doig Posted Aug 31, 2008 4:07 PM CDT Copied Republican presidential candidate John McCain announces changes to the RNC due to Hurricane Gustav outside the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency in Pearl, Miss., Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia) As Hurricane Gustav bore down on the Gulf Coast today, John McCain announced a drastically curtailed schedule for the opening day of the convention that will anoint him his party's presidential nominee, CNN reports. But as organizers stripped a grandiose event down to the bare minimum, Politico reports that Republicans are looking for a silver lining in Gustav's ominous clouds—Katrina redemption. Morbid though it may be, the storm “shows McCain dealing with a surprise — a big event that has consequences on people,” a convention planner said. “It’s redemption for the Republican Party on the competence issue. The convention ends up being about John McCain showing the best way to serve a cause greater than yourself.” Read These Next It's being called a disturbing trend: paragliders with bombs. Feds cite ChatGPT evidence in arrest of Palisades Fire suspect. After 5 months, the 10th jail escapee has been caught. Trump, Johnson aren't happy with pick for Super Bowl headliner. Report an error