The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, St Paul

The Republican Party severely curtailed the start Monday of its convention to nominate John McCain for president as Hurricane Gustav bore down on the United States.

Stalked by memories of the Hurricane Katrina tragedy, McCain shelved most of the convention's opening day. President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney cancelled plans to attend to concentrate on the deadly storm.

Party leaders scurried to change their plans amid anxiety over being seen to stage a political celebration while a killer storm pummels the Louisiana coast.

"The challenges are grave and we have to, as you know, put our country first," said Senator McCain at a rally in O'Fallon, Missouri late Sunday.

"We will put aside our political hats and put on our American hats and we will do everything America needs to do and America must do because the nature of our nation to help any of us."

McCain's Democratic rival Senator Barack Obama said he would make his campaign's mammoth donor list available to channel money and volunteers towards relief efforts.

"We can activate an email list of a couple million people who want to give back," Obama told reporters after attending church in Lima, Ohio.

"I think we can get tons of volunteers to travel down there if it becomes necessary," said Obama who was formally installed as the Democratic nominee at a triumphant convention last week.

The Republican convention will open for two-and-a-half hours on Monday simply to put in place the start of the legal process needed to nominate a presidential and vice presidential candidate, officials said.