After a ton of traveling I made it to Erie for a switch of clothes and then right back out here to Minneapolis/St. Paul for the Republican Convention.
All the reporters and organizers have been calling it "Minny" for the last year because we've been sick of saying such a long name over and over again! Also, if you are curious about St. Paul--the convention site is technically in St. Paul but some of the other events are in the city of Minneapolis. They're called the "Twin Cities." Our hotel is all the way in Minnetonka! The cities couldn't really handle the hotel demand, so along with the Pennsylvania delegation we are stuck pretty far away from the site.

As I'm sure you've heard, things are not going exactly as planned for the Republican party due to hurricane Gustav. Senator John McCain had to rip up plans for the opening day of the convention. He's trying to avoid any association with President Bush’s response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Many of the networks are pulling their top reporters from the convention and sending them off to the site of Gustav. They, just like McCain, learned a lesson from Katrina.

The convention site was still being built last night and the delegates are still here. As you can see the stage is empty--but when John McCain and Sarah Palin make it here we'll bring it to you.

For now the Republican party is still in tact in Minny ... even though its new leader is hundreds of miles away.