Ark. GOP delegates confused over convention plans (UALR Public Radio) - The suspension of most of Monday's opening activities at the Republican National Convention left Arkansas's delegates confused over how to proceed with the business of nominating John McCain as thousands of evacuees were expected to pour into their state to escape Hurricane Gustav.

Delegates arrived over the weekend prepared to nominate McCain as the Republican pick for president, but instead focused on a scaled-back convention as the hurricane churned toward New Orleans. Arkansas Republican Party Chairman Karen Ray said she didn't know how the hurricane would affect the delegation's activities for the week, which included a speech planned Monday morning before the delegation by former Gov. Mike Huckabee.

President Bush and Vice President Cheney scrapped plans to address the convention Monday, and McCain's campaign chartered a jet to fly delegates back to their hurricane-threatened states along the Gulf Coast. McCain's campaign said the first-night program was being cut from seven hours to two and a half.

Jim Harris, a delegate and Huckabee's brother-in-law, said he thought suspending most of the first day's activities was the right call.

U.S. Rep. John Boozman, Arkansas' sole Republican congressman, said he had spent much of the day checking with his staff on preparations for evacuees expected in Arkansas. The state is expecting to handle 4,000 evacuees unable to make arrangements for temporary quarters, who would be housed at Fort Chaffee, in Boozman's congressional district.

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