Organizers of the Republican National Convention (RNC) and staff of John McCain's presidential campaign will put together 80,000 "relief packages" for those affected by Hurricane Gustav.
McCain campaign manager Rick Davis told reporters in a conference called Monday that the convention in St. Paul, Minn. will be putting together the packages -- which Target stores and FedEx are helping sponsor.
Davis also said the McCain staff and RNC aides will be reaching out to Republican donors, asking for their financial help.
He also said that first lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain, wife of McCain, will be appearing on stage at the opening session of Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. Monday evening to ask TV viewers to assist those affected by Hurricane Gustav, which is now lashing some of the Gulf Coast states.
The convention's program for Monday, which has been scaled back dramatically because organizers do not want to distract from the news about Gustav, is still going to be very limited, Davis said. For the most part, only procedural business will be conducted.
The additions to the program are that Laura will introduce a video, featuring governors of the Gulf Coast states and Cindy will ask TV viewers to do what they can to help those in the hurricane's path.