US: THE REPUBLICAN national convention began in earnest last night after an abbreviated start as party officials judged that the limited impact of Hurricane Gustav on the Gulf Coast meant that politics could return to normal, writes Denis Staunton in St Paul
After a video message from president George Bush, former senator Fred Thompson, once a rival of Mr McCain for the presidential nomination, was due to give the keynote address. Independent Democratic senator Joe Lieberman, who was Al Gore's running mate in 2000, was also due to tell delegates why he had crossed party lines to support Mr McCain.
Mr Bush had been scheduled to speak to the convention in person on Monday evening but he travelled instead to Texas to visit disaster workers as Gustav threatened the Gulf.
Some Republicans were relieved that the unpopular president was not appearing at the convention in person, although Mr Bush's message last night was expected to receive a warm reception from delegates.
The McCain campaign hopes that the truncated convention will provide an opportunity to celebrate the Republican candidate's life in public service and draw a contrast with Barack Obama's relative inexperience. Mr Obama received a poll boost from last week's convention in Denver, although his post-convention bounce appears to have been relatively modest and may be fading.
The Gallup daily tracking poll has found that, since the end of the convention, Mr Obama has risen four points in the polls to lead Mr McCain by 49 per cent to 43 per cent. Most pollsters expect McCain to receive a boost following this week's convention, unless doubts about his choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate turn independent voters off.
A peaceful protest against the convention ended in disorder on Monday after a small group of demonstrators broke away from more than 10,000 people who marched on the convention centre in St Paul. Protesters accused police of a heavy-handed response when they used pepper spray, rubber bullets and concussion grenades against demonstrators and journalists.
Among more than 280 people arrested was veteran independent journalist Amy Goodman, the presenter of the television and radio show Democracy Now. She was detained after she complained to police about the arrest of two of her producers.
Ms Goodman said yesterday that, although a few demonstrators had broken away from the demonstration to slash tyres and break windows, the authorities over-reacted.
"Police used harsh tactics, including chemical irritants, to disperse everyone, even those protesters who remained peaceful," she said.