Gustav

MINNEAPOLIS – At their morning breakfast today, some of Kentucky’s delegates to the Republican National Convention signed up to participate in a charitable function scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in Minneapolis.

Kentuckians will join their counterparts from West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. tomorrow to package “comfort kits” for refugees from Gulf Coast states stricken by Hurricane Gustav.

Republican Party of Kentucky chairman Steve Robertson announced the event this morning, and many of those present at the breakfast subsequently signed up to participate.

MINNEAPOLIS – Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) was scheduled to join his home state’s delegates for lunch today in Minneapolis, shortly after he arrived in town for the Republican National Convention.

Delegates were to join McConnell at the private event on Nicollet Island, which is set in the middle of the Mississippi River just north of the convention’s host city. State Republican Party officials said McConnell would address the delegates at the lunch.

McConnell missed the first day of the RNC, staying in Kentucky to meet with refugees from Hurricane Gustav and to attend a briefing on the weather emergency. His scheduled remarks on the opening night of the convention were cancelled as part of changes the RNC made to the schedule in response to Gustav.

After the lunch, Kentucky delegates were invited to attend an afternoon reception before heading to the arena where the convention would be held.

MINNEAPOLIS – Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) is set to touch down in Minnesota for the Republican National Convention today after staying at home in Kentucky during the first day of events, due to fallout from Hurricane Gustav.

The Senator’s scheduled speech before the convention on Monday night was scratched from the schedule along with all other scheduled speakers amid concerns over Gustav’s impact, but reportedly may be rescheduled.

Instead of travelling to Minneapolis to attend the abbreviated sessions yesterday, McConnell remained in Kentucky, attending events related to the weather emergency.

Yesterday, McConnell visited with refugees from the stricken Gulf Coast region who had fled to Kentucky. The Senator also  participated in a briefing with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials.

Details of McConnell’s schedule while in Minneapolis and St. Paul are not yet confirmed.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell: Getty Images Photo MINNEAPOLIS – When Monday’s schedule for the Republican National Convention was altered due to the impending strike of Hurricane Gustav, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) was among those whose speeches were cancelled. Now, Kentucky’s senior senator will remain at home today to receive a briefing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the situation on the Gulf Coast, according to his Washington office.

McConnell will be briefed by FEMA officials in Kentucky this morning and hold a press briefing afterwards.

Designated as the convention's "temporary chairman," details are apparently being worked out about how to conduct convention business in McConnell’s absence.

A spokesman for McConnell said further details concerning the Senator's attendance in Minneapolis will be confirmed soon.