AP - President Bush is skipping the Republican National Convention on Monday and will travel instead to Texas to meet with emergency workers and evacuees as Hurricane Gustav bears down on the Gulf Coast.

Reuters - Hurricane Gustav disrupted Republican John McCain's convention on Sunday -- President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney opted out of attending and Republicans considered shortening the event.

AFP - US President George W. Bush said Sunday he will not attend the Republican National Convention this week due to the dangerous hurricane threatening the US Gulf coast, and that he will instead monitor the storm and evacuation operations Monday in Texas.

AFP - White House hopeful John McCain vowed Sunday to transform his party's convention into a call for action in the wake of deadly Hurricane Gustav which is bearing down on the US Gulf Coast.

AP - John McCain ordered changes in the Republican National Convention that was to be a four-day celebration of his presidential nomination Sunday, to "redirect our efforts" to reflect the seriousness of Hurricane Gustav as it churned toward the Gulf Coast. President Bush, Vice President Cheney and prominent GOP governors decided to skip the gathering altogether.

AP - As John McCain pushes the new Republican presidential ticket of McCain-Palin, Democrat Barack Obama is promoting another Republican brand — McCain-Bush.

AFP - Republican officials said Saturday there were no plans to postpone the party's convention here next week due to Hurricane Gustav, which threatened to strike New Orleans by Tuesday.

AFP - Republican White House hopeful John McCain Saturday warned Hurricane Gustav could force the suspension of his nominating convention, as the rival campaigns dueled in battleground states.