With the landfall of Hurricane Gustav on the U.S. Gulf Coast , the White House canceled the planned appearances of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney . Governors Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Rick Perry of Texas skipped the convention to remain in their states during the hurricane 's landfall . The Monday , September 1 , 2008 , schedule was compressed to two hours from seven . McCain called on the party to reduce partisan activities ahead of the hurricane 's arrival . The Republican Party chartered a DC-9 to fly convention delegates representing the affected areas back home to their families . The last time a major hurricane struck in a Presidential-election year was Hurricane Andrew in 1992 , which hit South Florida four days after the Republican Convention in Houston , Texas
Republican Convention
1992 Republican National Convention
2008 Republican National Convention