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Even though the Republican National Convention has been trimmed due to Hurricane Gustav, Utah's delegation is still in St. Paul, Minn., looking forward to the upcoming business.
Utah's Republicans are ready to go: Almost every delegate seems torn between showing respect for hurricane victims and showcasing the GOP platform.
The program for this afternoon is trimmed down to the business that must be done. All the speeches and pomp and circumstance have been cut from six hours down to about three.
Even so, Republicans are looking forward to showcasing what the McCain-Palin ticket has to offer voters this fall.
Stan Lockhart, chairman of the Utah Republican Party, said, "This just started on a little bit more somber note, where we rose above partisan politics, and we turned our hearts to people in the Gulf Coast and presented a united front that we were pulling for them."
The convention is buzzing over Gov. Sarah Palin's confirmation that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. Bristol Palin recently broke the news to her parents. She and the baby's father plan to get married.
In convention news: This afternoon, Utahn Thurl Bailey offered the invocation to the conventioneers. And just a few minutes ago, Laura Bush and Cindy McCain took the stage together and introduced a video that showcases hurricane relief effort that are currently underway in the Gulf Coast.
There was also a rumor flying around the convention hall that Sen. McCain might deliver his acceptance speech via satellite.
Today, the McCain campaign released a statement that says he is fully planning to come here to deliver that speech.
Gustav and the Palin family challenges may have overshadowed much of what was scheduled here. But there was still plenty of action today. Bruce Lindsay will have more on that and some comments from Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch tonight on Eyewitness News HD at 5.
E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com
