ST. PAUL — No President Bush. No Vice President Dick Cheney. But a lot more free time. That’s what Kansas delegates are facing on their first full day here in Minnesota as party officials announced this afternoon that they will cut back all non-essential events during Monday’s opening of the Republican National Convention.
The delegation was slated to spend 2:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center here in downtown St. Paul, but delegate Kelly Arnold said the delegation will now likely return to their hotel about 20 miles south of here around 4:30 p.m. “As a delegate, it’s kind of disappointing,” Arnold said. “But we understand why and we think they made the right decision.”
Arnold said Kansas delegates haven’t set up any events for the unexpected downtime, but he said many delegations are considering donation tables at their receptions for people to donate to the Red Cross and other organizations that may be tasked with recovery efforts after Hurricane Gustav makes landfall Monday.