Print |
E-mail to a friend
ELECTIONS
Change of plans for GOP delegates
Nora Ankrom and Mike Ankrom
Related:
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Instead of spending their first night of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. listening to GOP speakers, members of the West Virginia delegation spent it at the Mall of America.
At the recommendation of Sen. John McCain, the convention announced substantial changes to the convention's program and actions being taken to help with Hurricane Gustav relief efforts. According to the GOP, all program activities beyond the official business that must be conducted in accordance with party rules were canceled Monday.
Nearly five hours of programming were canceled, leaving Cabell County's representatives an opportunity to relax and do what they wanted Monday. President George Bush was scheduled to speak Monday night but was visiting the region hit by Hurricane Gustav.
Nora Ankrom, an at-large delegate and Marshall University graduate student, said she was disappointed that the events were canceled but understood the importance of focusing on the people in the south in need of help.
"I am disappointed, but this is a ceremonial function; down there (the speakers) are serving a functional role," she said Monday. "I'm looking forward to the other speakers at the event tomorrow night."
"We were looking forward to some of the programs, but we understand," said Mike Ankrom, Nora Ankrom's husband. "Everything else is going great. All the delegates are working great together."
Due to Hurricane Gustav's movements, the delegates were unsure about today's schedule of events. For tonight, however, the Ankroms said the entire West Virginia delegation were invited to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's political action committee event. Huckabee won the majority of the state's GOP national convention delegates, 18 of 30, when he won the West Virginia GOP Presidential Convention in February.
With time on their hands Monday night, Mike Ankrom said some of the Cabell County representatives from the state delegation planed on going to the Mall of America, then the Rainforest Cafe for dinner. Today, he said, will be dedicated to the speakers and events.
