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ST. PAUL, Minn. — The floor was full, even if the stands weren’t.

Republican delegates to their party’s national convention filled their seats Monday as the convention was gaveled to order at 2:40 p.m.

The routine business of the first hours of the first session doesn’t typically draw such a crowd but the abbreviated schedule put the pressure on delegates to show up early to have a presence.

Jim Greer, chairman of Florida’s Republican Party encouraged his delegation to take their seats to show a unified group. They did, with their Florida turnpike toll worker shirts identifying them in front of and just to the right of the speaker’s podium.

The Xcel Energy Center stands, by contrast, were occupied by only a fraction of the crowd that normally would be there for prime time speakers such as President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, who canceled their appearances, focusing instead on Hurricane Gustav and its aftermath.

Under nets filled with red, white and blue balloons that may never drop, Republican National Committee Chairman Robert Duncan set the tone for a convention that is still very much in flux.

He asked those in the hall to take out their cell phones and send a text message to donate $5 to hurricane relief.

As of Monday afternoon, it still wasn’t clear whether nominee John McCain would even come to the Twin Cities to accept the nomination in person.

Yet still, the arrival of Hurricane Gustav offered the Republicans opportunity to highlight one of their messages in a way they hadn’t anticipated.

A theme running throughout the convention is “Serving a cause greater than self-interest,” a phrase adorning convention literature. The words “Country First” circled the Xcel Center. It’s a message meant to build primarily upon nominee John McCain’s war record but the conversion of the convention into a fundraiser for storm victims give the Republicans a chance to put that message to work in a different context.

Also, by eliminating partisan attacks against Democrats, which would be unseemly in the face of a crisis but that would certainly have been cascading from the podium had that crisis not arisen, the Republicans steer clear of the sort of divisive rhetoric that many Americans are weary of.

Given the nonpartisan atmosphere the party is trying to foster, it’s difficult for party leaders to acknowledge the possibility of finding political advantage in the revamped format.

“Sen. McCain demonstrated good leadership, asking us to tone it down,” Greer said. “At the end of the day, I don’t think we should look at this as a partisan issue. There is no winner and loser and we shouldn’t try to find one,” Greer said.

First Lady Laura Bush introduced a series of videos made by Gulf Coast governors using the same non-partisan tone that prevailed Monday. “When such events occur, we’re reminded, first, we’re Americans.”

Cindy McCain suggested delegates visit causegreater.com to donate to hurricane relief. “This is a time we take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats,” she said.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, via video, picked up on the theme. “It’s neighbor helping neighbor, asking not, ‘What party you belong to?’ but, ‘How they can help?’”

* * *

The story that ran a distant third in Monday’s news cycle, that the daughter of vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is pregnant and unmarried at 17, rolled off the backs of Florida delegates like so much tropical rain.

“Absolutely not,” said John Colon, an alternate delegate from Sarasota when asked if the news changed his assessment of Palin. “We’re excited about her as a candidate.”

Fred Leonhardt, a delegate from Orlando, said Palin’s situation will humanize her to voters. “It is clear evidence that she can be a person Americans can identify with. This is a parental situation she’s going to have to deal with in a loving manner. It’s certainly not a negative.”

Leonhardt said the situation reminds him of Abraham Lincoln, who faced family crises while guiding the country through the Civil War. “There’s leadership and there’s family issues you have to deal with,” he said.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said he doubts the story will effect voters or have staying power.

“Most people understand that some children do get pregnant. She’s 17. I think all of us know someone who’s gotten pregnant (at a young age),” McCollum said.

“I really don’t think it’s a factor at all. I think it’s a one-day news story.”

****

Hurricane Gustav was expected to push water up the Mississippi just past New Orleans.

But the storm’s impact was being felt all the way up the river in Minneapolis.

A subdued Florida delegation to the Republican National Convention here met Monday for prayer and to hear how their plans for the week have been curtailed.

The partisan political spectacle that is a national party convention has been retooled into a week of disaster awareness and fundraising.

The shift will cost Florida delegates at least two nights of partying. State Republican Chairman Jim Greer asked delegates not to hold Wednesday evening parties that had been scheduled for Republicans from various congressional districts. A delegation-wide pool party set for Thursday night has also been canceled. Money saved by not staging the pool party will go to hurricane relief.

Monday night’s concert by LeAnn Rimes and the Bellamy Brothers was to go on, but delegates are asked to bring money to contribute to Gulf Coast hurricane relief.

Delegates took the changes in stride. “Obviously, you’ve got to think it’s appropriate. For all of us, in Florida, we’ve been on the other side if this,” said Don Yaeger, a delegate from Tallahassee.

What had been scheduled as a breakfast to honor Florida’s Republicans in Congress, was turned into a prayer meeting with pastors and a rabbi beseeching the almighty to spare the coast a major disaster.

Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp of Cape Coral delivered the morning’s most poignant message. He told the story of a woman eight months pregnant when Hurricane Charley hit Southwest Florida four years ago. She was without power for weeks. Then her husband’s condition suddenly worsened after routine surgery. Doctors, gave her a choice: Wake him up to tell him he wasn’t going to make it, or let him die peacefully. She chose a third path, calling her friends to gather in the husband’s hospital room to pray. Soon, his condition improved and he eventually recovered, Kottkamp said. “That woman is very important to me. She’s my wife,” and emotional Kottkamp said.

“God answers prayers and he answers specific prayers specifically,” he said.

Ironically, during his battle with post-operative infection, Kottkamp was brought to the Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis. “The last time I was here, I was in a coma,” he said.

The convention changes go far beyond the Florida delegation. Monday evening speeches by President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were canceled. An address by First Lady Laura Bush focused on hurricane relief.

Part of the Minneapolis Convention Center, where some convention activities are housed, was being converted into an assembly center for 80,000 “comfort packages” to be sent to hurricane victims.

Greer conceded the changes will cost Republicans a chance to get their message to a national television audience the way Democrats did last week in Denver.

But he said the president, nominee John McCain, and Florida’s Republican leadership are doing the right thing by turning attention away from politics and toward the effects of Hurricane Gustav and possibly Hurricane Hanna.

“There are no winners. There are no losers. The American people expect the president to be serving the people. The Florida delegation is supporting our fellow Americans. We would ask them to support us if we were facing, and we have, similar circumstances,” Greer said.

As for McCain, his name was barely mentioned in the hour-long event.

The focus was on a higher authority.

“Lt. Gov. Kottkamp’s story, if that doesn’t put it in perspective. ... I think perspective is one of the things that gets lost in these events,” Yaeger said.

* * *

While the overall mode was somber, there were moments of levity at the Florida delegation meeting.

Delegates were asked to wear the colorful shirts of Florida’s turnpike toll collectors throughout the day. Most did, and Greer even wore shorts and deck shoes to complete the tropical look.

District 12 Congressman Adam Putnam, quipped about the altered nature of the convention, “I’m not going to be able to say anything partisan at a convention? I’m going to have to rethink my speech,” Putnam said.

Putnam, one of the youngest members of Congress, was greeted by a standing ovation of Florida delegates. He is clearly aware of Congress’s overall negative rating. “I’m glad the 9 percent that still approve of Congress is in this room.” he said.