Oklahoma delegates preparing to leave Twin Cities
ST. PAUL, MINN. – Oklahoma’s delegation to the Republican National Convention are going their separate ways today.
They posed for this group shot Wednesday evening, just hours before what many said was the biggest and most unifying moment of the convention – GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s speech.
It’s been an interesting week for the members of the Oklahoma group – 41 delegates, 38 alternates and several guests.
Excited that four Oklahomans would be speaking – one each night of the convention – had them excited.
Then Hurricane Gustav decided to get nasty and headed toward New Orleans. It turned out the Crescent City didn’t take a direct hit, but it caused damage in other parts of Louisiana and in Mississippi. So convention officials pretty much gutted Monday’s schedule, ridding the proceedings of political speeches and turning its television time into an appeal for relief aid.
Conventioneers were pretty much isolated from anti-war protests outside the Xcel Energy Center, but at least four Oklahomans stumbled upon Monday’s parade, and a couple actually saw a few people – apparently not associated with the protest march participants – tangle with police.
Most of the delegates spent a lot of extra time riding in buses. First, one bus driver drove the Oklahomans to the wrong Crowne Plaza Hotel for breakfast with the Louisiana delegation to hear former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma speak.
Later that night, some of the same Oklahomans on the bus ride back from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul back to their hotel in Minneapolis were taken about four miles past the hotel.
Thursday was the last time Oklahomans would gather at the same time for breakfast. It was also a time to thank Bunny Chambers, Oklahoma’s committeewoman, and Lynn Windel, Oklahoma’s committeeman, on the Republican National Committee. Carolyn McCarty of Mutual and James Dunne of Oklahoma County start their new duties today on the national committee with – what else? – meetings.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
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