Hurricane Gustav blew the Republican Convention off course Monday, but party activists say it's been an opportunity for John McCain to show leadership under adversity. They're right. Instead of partisan rallies and rhetoric, there are sombre prayer breakfasts and fundraising for the victims. Florida's Republican Party chairman told delegates this morning that the convention was no longer about politics, it wasn't about "winning or losing" - it was all about helping those in need.  read more »

Republicans gathering here in St. Paul are all aflutter about winning diehard Hillary supporters in key battleground states. Not so fast.  read more »

It is getting increasingly harder for Republicans to keep a straight face as the November elections creep up. But realism is setting in with some lawmakers. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) may have summed up party feeling best:

“I was in a meeting the other day and it was mentioned that Senator McCain was distancing himself from the White House and I suggested he might want to distance himself from republicans if he’s going to win the presidential race.”

Read on to listen to the audio clip. He said it not me.

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