Just as they did four years ago, delegates to the Republican National Convention dialed down the enthusiasm for the first official day of events as a tropical storm bore down on the Gulf Coast.
As in 2008, Hawaii delegates also say they do not expect a delay in the proceedings to dampen the overall mood.
“We know that the weather was bad, but it really hasn’t tempered the mood,” said Hawaii Republican Party Chairman David Chang, who was among the 82 state members to make the trip to Tampa, Fla., for this year’s convention.
“I almost think that it’s kind of even bottled up,” Chang said in a telephone interview Monday. “People are really eager to go to convention tomorrow and get everything going.”
Organizers on Sunday announced an abbreviated schedule for the four-day convention as Tropical Storm Isaac churned in the Gulf of Mexico and threatened Tampa. On Monday, as the storm bypassed Florida en route to Louisiana, the convention’s opening session lasted less than a minute as national GOP Chairman Reince Preibus simply rapped a gavel and declared the convention open for business.
The revised scheduled delayed the formal nomination of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as the Republican’s presidential candidate.
BOTH Chang and Fritz Rohlfing, chairman of the Hawaii delegation, agreed with the new timetable out of an abundance of caution.
Rohlfing also was in St. Paul, Minn., in 2008 when opening festivities were cut short in deference to Hurricane Gustav, which was threatening the Gulf Coast. The convention overcame the slow start in rousing fashion, resulting in a bump for nominee John McCain after the introduction of Sarah Palin to the ticket.
“They did fine last time, and I’m sure they’ll do great once again,” Rohlfing said. “Like everything else in life, you do your best, and you make do with the situation you’re presented with.
“I’m hopeful that we’ll just forge ahead now and try to get the business of the convention accomplished and send everybody back full of enthusiasm for the Romney-Ryan ticket — back to the states where the work needs to be done.”
Members of the Hawaii delegation spent the first day in each other’s company, watching storm updates and prepping for the rest of the week, they reported by phone.
Their morning session at the Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore hotel welcomed guest speakers Ben Romney, one of Romney’s five sons, and U.S. Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming.
Ben Romney gave delegates a personal glimpse of his father, without getting much into policy, members said.
“Ben was just focused on his dad and his mom as people,” said Erin Fale, vice chairwoman of the delegation. “I think it seems like that’s the strategy of the Romney campaign in general. … I think that’s the message (the sons) are trying to bring out is just their dad as a person — as a dad, as a father, as a husband, as a son, that kind of thing.”
ANN Romney is scheduled to speak at the convention today.
“I think she’ll be able to continue what Ben was talking about before our delegation, which is the personal side of the Romney family, particularly Mitt, so that people can understand where he’s coming from on a personal and emotional level,” Rohlfing said.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is scheduled to deliver tonight’s keynote speech.
“I expect a passionate exposition — kind of like a closing argument,” Rohlfing said, noting Christie is a former U.S. attorney. “I think he’ll be laying out the case for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to be elected.”
Hawaii delegates on Monday also participated in a volunteer project with members of the Utah delegation. Members put together toiletry kits and bags of school supplies for local Tampa residents in need.
“Many of us are aware and concerned about Hurricane Isaac because today’s convention schedule was largely canceled, so it was great to use this time to do something to leave Tampa a little better than we left it and to make some new friends doing it,” said Hawaii delegate Elevila Giles.
Seventeen delegates and three superdelegates from Hawaii are taking part in the convention. The 17 delegates are pledged proportionally to Republican candidates based on the results of the state party’s presidential caucus held in March. There are nine Romney delegates, five Rick Santorum delegates and three Ron Paul delegates.
In all, more than 80 people are traveling with the delegation, including alternates, guests and support staff, Fale said.
