With Monday’s official proceedings mostly called off under the threat of Tropical Storm Isaac, some Republican National Convention delegates are now talking about the possibility of further cutting events should the storm have a major effect on populated areas.

Tampa, the site of the convention, has so far received only some manageable rain and wind. But evacuations are under way in New Orleans, with Isaac now predicted to reach hurricane force and make landfall Wednesday.

GOP officials have become less concerned about the storm’s direct impact on Tampa than they are about coinciding effects on the media coverage and the nation’s attention.

“It’s more important to get the message out to evacuate people,” said Irvine delegate Dick Ackerman, who led this morning’s Pledge of Allegiance before the California delegation heard from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. “We’ll get our message out one way or the other.”

With Isaac taking a path similar to 2005′s devastating Hurricane Katrina, Republicans are also sensitive to the gravity of the situation and don’t want to be portrayed as partying while others face life-threatening situations. The word “optics” is gaining currency in describing the image issue.

“Optics matter in politics,” said Scott Baugh, a delegate and chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County. “You have to be sensitive to what’s happening. … If New Orleans gets pounded, then it will be difficult to go on with the grand celebration here. But the nomination and subsequent celebration will happen at some time.”

Ackerman, who believes the nomination will occur regardless of the storm, described how the convention might be further curtailed.

“There are a few things they have to do – nominate Romney, approve the policy platform,” he said. “But you can cut the speakers if you have to and just get business done.”

Emily Sanford, a convention guest from Huntington Beach and former county GOP officer who’s been a delegate at three previous conventions, said that so far, the gathering has been positive.

“This is wonderful,” she said. “You see people you haven’t seen for sometime. We’re here for one reason: to get everybody together behind our candidate, Mitt Romney.”

And Isaac?

“I feel badly for all Americans who face disaster and we’ll play it by ear,” she said. “If the storm comes, we’ll work it out.”

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