Arkansans shuffle plans as leaders cancel 1st day

— Arkansas delegates to the Republican National Convention are buying umbrellas and rain ponchos and bracing for the effects of Tropical Storm Isaac.

The meteorological monster has already blown holes in their carefully choreographed schedule, wiping out nearly the entire first day’s agenda.

U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin’s afternoon convention speechwas pushed back and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s prime-time address was in limbo.

But Sunday evening, Republican officials released a revised agenda for the convention’s final three days, with Griffin scheduled to speak Tuesday afternoon and Huckabee scheduled for Wednesday evening.

The state-by-state presidential roll call was postponed until late Tuesday afternoon,and a late-night Arkansas Razorback Yacht Club Reception has been derailed.

The Mitt Romney for President balloons and banners will be saved for another day, while Republicans wait for the rain, wind and waves to pass by.

More cancellations are possible on Tuesday, even though the eye of the storm is expected to stay well west of Tampa, organizers say.

“We’re going to have to play it by ear, obviously, with the weather this week,” said Republican Party of Arkansas spokesman Katherine Vasilos.

This is the second consecutive Republican convention disrupted by weather.

In St. Paul, Minn., Republicans scaled back the first day of the 2008 convention as a far larger storm - Category 4 Hurricane Gustav - neared the Texas coast.

Four years later, Republican activists are keeping their eyes on whether the Gulf Coast weather will upstage political ideology.

“Watching the Weather Channel and reading the convention news on the Internet probably sums up what we’re doing today,” said Christian Olson, 27, an alternate delegate from Little Rock.

Republican National Committeeman Jonathan Barnett, a state legislator, says the rain delay is unfortunate.

“Everybody’s all geared up and ready to go and excited, so it’s obviously disappointing,” said Barnett of Siloam Springs.

Delegates in beach-side hotels may be anxious. And those lodging in St. Petersburg could find themselves cut off from Tampa if the 4-mile-long Sunshine Skyway Bridge is closed.

But Arkansas delegation members, holed up at a Hilton Garden Inn in the historic Ybor City district, are on higher ground and won’t have to worry about storm surges or, they hope, power failures.

“There’s plenty to do and lots of good restaurants,” Barnett said. “Everybody’s going to stay busy. Everybody will be fine. And their spirits arehigh.”

Delegate Jim Reavis, 46, said it would take more than a storm to stifle Republican spirits.

“I don’t think the rain could dampen the excitement we feel,” the Fayetteville activist said. “We’ve met people from Maryland, Ohio, Michigan, New York and North Carolina, and they’re all extremely pumped and ready to rock and roll.”

Nationwide, 2,286 voting delegates will be gathering to formally nominate Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, and Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan as the Republican presidential and vice presidential nominees.

Tens of thousands of other activists, journalists, protesters, donors and volunteers are expected.

Three Republican members of Arkansas’ congressional district will be in Tampa for the week - including one who was picked for the national spotlight.

Sunday morning, as he boarded his fight to Florida, Griffin, 44, said his convention speech is written and ready for delivery.

The Little Rock congressman wasn’t sure when or how long his time slot would be, but said organizers are working to avoid eliminating speeches.

“They may change the length and the order and some of the specifics, but they’re going to do everything they can to fit all of the speeches from Monday into the remainder of the week,” he said.

That’ll make the convention’s final three days extra busy.

“It’ll be more compacted, more concentrated, but things will be great,” said Griffin, a delegate and chairman of the Romney campaign in Arkansas.

Griffin said he agreed with the decision to cancel today’s activities. When it comes to dangerous weather, he said, “You’ve just got to be flexible. It’s not something you can control, and you’ve got to put safety first.”

Front Section, Pages 1 on 08/27/2012

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