Aug 28, 2012

Stormy weather deflated the big bang that was expected at Day 1 of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. Much of what was planned for Monday was scale-backed to a shorter week of activities. However, despite the weather, politicians, GOP supporters, and protesters still turned out for the opening of the convention.

: A sign for the Republican National Convention hangs outside Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. The Republican National Convention is scheduled to convene briefly August 27, and delayed its first full session until August 28 because of Tropical Storm Isaac. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: Attendees of the Republican National Convention walk through a tunnel outside of the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: An elephant sign is seen on the side of a tent during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: A young delegate arrives before the start of opening session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 27, 2012. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

: American political consultant Karl Rove (L) and Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah (R) share a word at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, during final preparations for the opening of the Republican National Convention on August 27, 2012. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

: The speaker of the United States House of Representatives John Boehner and ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer look at the stage at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, during final preparations for the opening of the Republican National Convention on August 27, 2012. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

: Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (C) appears on stage for a sound check during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

: The speaker of the United States House of Representatives John Boehner checks his pockets on stage at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, during final preparations for the opening of the Republican National Convention on August 27, 2012. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

: RNC Chairman Reince Priebus bangs the gavel to start the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

: The Chairman of the Republican National Convention (RNC) Reince Priebus gives the thumbs-up after gaveling the convention to order and then immediate recess at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 27, 2012. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

: Delegates watch campaign videos of presidential candidate Mitt Romney after the chairman of the Republican National Convention (RNC) Reince Priebus gaveled the convention to order at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 27, 2012. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

: A display shows the collected national debt since the start of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

: Signs are seen at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida August 27, 2012. Tropical Storm Isaac forced Republicans on Sunday to rewrite the script for their national convention in Tampa as party officials scrambled to make sure candidate Mitt Romney’s message to voters would not be blown off course. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)

: Actress Janine Turner stands at the podium on the abbreviated first day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

: House Majority Leader John Boehner, permanent chairman of the Republican National Convention, talks with the MEDIA before gaveling in the opening session in Tampa, Florida August 27, 2012. (Jim Bourg/Reuters)

: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (C-R) is surrounded by media in the New Jersey delegate section of the floor at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, during final preparations for the opening of the Republican National Convention on August 27, 2012. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

: A man with a tri-corner hat stands on the arena floor before the start of the abbreviated first day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida.(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

: Convention guest Tom Moor of Dedham, Massachusetts, wears a colonial tri-corner hat as he walks the floor of the Republican National Convention before the start of the first session of the convention in Tampa, Florida August 27, 2012. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

: Men wearing cowboy hats stand on the arena floor before the start of the abbreviated first day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

: A general view of people on the arena floor at the start of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: Josh Foos of Yukon, OK and supporter of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) holds a poster in front of a sign that reads “We Can Do Better” during the start of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

: A woman looks out from the upper levels of the Republican National Convention during the opening session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 27, 2012. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

: Alternate delegate Karen Skrill of Randolph, VT wears a jester hat on the arena floor before the start of the abbreviated first day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: Delegates leave the floor after the chairman of the Republican National Convention (RNC) Reince Priebus gaveled the convention to order at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 27, 2012. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

: Police watch protesters march from behind a barricade during the Republican National Convention on August 27, 2012 near downtown Tampa, Florida. Commercial bus cancellations due to Tropical Storm Isaac have prevented many of the expected demonstrators from arriving in the city. (Edward Linsmier/Getty Images)

: Law enforcement officers arrest a protester during a demonstration on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. The demonstration was being held just before of the start of the Republican’s nominating convention. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

: Anti-GOP protesters shout slogans during a protest march at the streets of Tampa on August 27, 2012. Some 200 protesters braved inclement weather Monday to protest Republican policies at the party convention. (Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images)

: A protester wears a Mitt Romney mask as he and other protesters walk through the streets before the start of the Republican National Convention being held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

: Police stand guard during a demonstration near the Tampa Bay Times Forum during the Republican National Convention on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

: Activists march through downtown as they take part in the “Coalition to March on the RNC” before the start of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 27, 2012. (Steve Nesius/Reuters)

: Protesters demonstrate at the Republican National Convention being held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

: Protesters walk through the streets before the start of the Republican National Convention being held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

: An activist lies in front of a police-line during a protest on the streets outside the Republican National Convention in Tampa Florida August 27, 2012. Republicans have cut their Tampa, Florida, convention from the traditional four days to three because of a threatening storm, just as they did four years ago when a hurricane hit Louisiana. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)

: Law enforcement officers wearing riot gear leave the scene where a peaceful march ended during the National Republican Convention on August 27, 2012 in downtown Tampa, Florida. Commercial bus cancellations due to Tropical Storm Isaac have prevented many of the expected demonstrators from being present. (Edward Linsmier/Getty Images)

: Protesters walk through the streets before the start of the Republican National Convention being held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

: Protesters walk through the streets before the start of the Republican National Convention being held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

: Activists demonstrate during a march on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. The demonstration was being held just before of the start of the Republican National Convention, which will hold its first session on August 28. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

: Protesters dance during a sudden, heavy rainstorm while protesting outside the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida August 27, 2012. (Philip Andrews/Reuters)

: An activist makes a peace sign in front of law enforcement officers while demonstrating on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

: Vermin Supreme, 62, from Baltimore, wears his elephant mask as he marches along with fellow protesters during the March For Your Life rally in Tampa, Florida, Monday, August 27, 2012. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/MCT)

: A rainbow is seen on the sky after a heavy rain outside Tampa, Florida August 27, 2012. Due to severe weather Tropical Storm Isaac and possible hurricane conditions expected to hit the Mexican Gulf, the Republicans have decided to cut short their National Convention by one day. (Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images)

Related Reading

Republicans showcase Romney as storm clouds convention
Matt Spetalnick
Reuters
6:57 a.m. EDT, August 28, 2012

TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) – Presidential candidate Mitt Romney flies to Tampa on Tuesday to join fellow Republicans seeking to put their shortened convention back on track and prevent his message from being drowned out by a tropical storm churning toward the Gulf Coast.

Getting down to the first full day of business after Tropical Storm Isaac upended the convention schedule, delegates will formally affirm Romney as the party’s nominee in an evening capped by prime time speeches by Romney’s wife, Ann, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Romney, who had originally planned to arrive in Tampa on Thursday to accept his party’s nomination, decided to fly in on Tuesday to be on hand for his wife’s appearance on the podium, a campaign official said.

Republicans seeking to salvage the convention faced a stiff challenge: help Romney make an aggressive, memorable argument to replace Democratic President Barack Obama while being careful to show sensitivity to those at risk from the storm.

Delegates gathering for the typically festive and partisan event were also under pressure to avoid the appearance of unseemly celebration while the Gulf Coast was under threat. Isaac could hit Louisiana on the 7th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s devastating onslaught on New Orleans.

Day 1 at the Republican National Convention brings out politicians, GOP fans and protesters

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