(2 Sept 08-RV) Republican convention organisers in St Paul Minnesota are making changes
in convention plans to cram four days worth of speeches into three days. Organizers
held a truncated business-only session yesterday so there were no political discourses
while Gustav pounded the Gulf Coast. An address by President George W. Bush was scrapped
as he visited Texas to oversee relief efforts. Meanwhile, republican candidate for
vice president Sarah Palin, told the campaign that her 17 year old daughter is pregnant,
once again raising again the issue of pro-life choice in the run up to the November
election. Mark Stricherz is a political writer and author. He says despite
enthusiasm for Obama, and media attention on Palin’s family concerns, social issues
will still dog the democrats in the elections.