CLEARWATER, FL - AUGUST 25: Visitors walk along the Clearwater Pier as storms build offshore on August 25, 2012 in Clearwater, Florida. Tampa area residents wait for Tropical Storm Isaac as they prepare for the Repulican National Convention which will be held in Tampa during the week of August 27th. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Photo: Tom Pennington/2012 Getty Images
Hours after Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in Florida yesterday, with Tropical Storm Isaac bearing down on the state and threatening to flood bridges leading into Tampa, the RNC told reporters it was cancelling the GOP convention’s first full day. “Our first priority is ensuring the safety of delegates, alternates, guests, members of the media attending the Republican National Convention, and citizens of the Tampa Bay area,” explained RNC chairman Reince Priebus in a statement. Although the convention will still officially convene on Monday, it will immediately recess to Tuesday afternoon, with a scheduled delegate roll call vote also pushed back to Tuesday; Sunday night’s Lynyrd Skynyrd kickoff concert was also called off.
