David Holt from the Republican Convention NewsOK.com Blogging Community

Sunday afternoon, RNC leadership announced that Senator McCain was scaling back Monday’s session to simply the “must do” business of the Convention.  This is the right thing to do, and fits with his character, but it does mean the apparent cancellation of Congressman Tom Cole’s Monday speech (unless it gets rescheduled to later in the week).

Delegates don’t seem to be that shaken up about the scheduling changes.  Most headed over to an all-delegate party at the Minneapolis Convention Center tonight.  I think everyone understands it’s the right thing to do, and I think they’re still hopeful that Gustav will not cause the devastation of Katrina, though no one can say what will happen.

I’ve been fortunate enough these past eight years to be present for President Bush’s address to the 2000 RNC, his 2001 inaugural, his speech to the nation on Sept. 20, 2001, his second State of the Union, his 2004 RNC address, and his second inaugural.   So, this week’s valedictory appearance would have been a nice bookend.   But he’s doing the right thing focusing his energies on Hurrican Gustav, and I sincerely hope there will be another opportunity in the future for this party to show its appreciation to him, as it had planned to do tomorrow.  Perhaps the 2012 RNC. 

CNN’s new poll appears to confirm Zogby’s read - even after the DNC, it’s still basically a tie. 

That will fire up delegates this week.

Every delegate received a gift bag from the host committee. 

 It included a signed copy of “Faith of My Fathers” by John McCain, a stuffed duck that quacks “Aflac,” and this exclusive Kraft Macaroni & Cheese box.

A quick errand to downtown Minneapolis just brought delegate Mayor Cornett and I face to face with Mary Tyler Moore. 

Says the 20-year TV veteran: “You’d be surprised how often we quoted ‘Mary Tyler Moore.’”

The Oklahoma delegation is arriving in force now.  We are staying at the Four Points Sheraton in Minneapolis, a suburban-style hotel.   We’re here with the Colorado delegation. 

When they arrive, everyone is heading to the 7th floor to get their credentials.  Delegates are given credentials for the week which they will have to wear around their neck whenever they are in the Xcel Center. 

Delegates from OK are everywhere, and mostly everyone is just milling around and getting settled. 

On the media side of things, just spoke to Michael McNutt, with NewsOK, who arrived yesterday.  Jim Myers is also here from the Tulsa World, and Michael Cross with KOSU. 

I think I just passed William Bennett in the hall.

You know how different it feels when you’re at a basketball game and your team is up 2, versus when your team is down 2?  More news like this poll from Zogby, and these delegates will be energetic all week.

Women are, and have always been, a critical constituency amongst Republican activists, especially in Oklahoma.

Just as two local examples, RNC delegate Pam Pollard serves as Oklahoma County Chair, and RNC alternate delegate Cheryl Williams serves as Oklahoma Vice Chair.  And there isn’t a more active organization within the Republican Party (at least here in Oklahoma) than the Federation of Republican Women.  

So that being said, it’s quite fitting that the first female Vice President of the United States may very well be a Republican. 

And if the overwhelmingly positive response to the pick of Sarah Palin is any indication, that may indeed come to pass.  Here’s Michael McNutt’s coverage of the Oklahoma reaction, including from the aforementioned Cheryl Williams.

The energy today is amazing.  I think it’s safe to say that every Oklahoma delegate’s enthusiasm for next week’s events just increased by an order of magnitude.  I know mine has.

As an aside, I’ve had hundreds of conversations over the last six months with people from all over the country regarding who might be McCain’s V.P. pick.  And only ONE person ever even mentioned Sarah Palin.  So I have to give credit to Jeff Cloud, a man ahead of his time.

Here’s a story from the Washington Post regarding the issue of a Gustav-related RNC delay.

Drudge Report, however is reporting that RNC top dog Maria Cino (mentioned previously) told C-SPAN this morning that the show will go on.

As mentioned earlier, the RNC has some committees, and members of the Oklahoma delegation are serving on some of them:

Resolutions: Lynn Windel and Bunny Chambers

Credentials: Bob Cleveland and Pam Pollard

Rules: Gary Jones and Mary Rumph

Permanent Organization: Steve Fair and Phyllis Gorman