Despite Hurricane Isaac, RNC Delegates Carry On With Beachfront Activities
TAMPA, FL- The Republican National Convention has been effectively delayed by a day, but most of the 2286 delegates, plus alternates, are already in town. And they're not going to let some strong winds and rain get in the way of some pre-planned beach-front activities.
How are they passing the time in the face of Hurricane Isaac?
"Business as usual" Mitch Zak, a spokesman for the California delegation told ABC News.
The California delegation hosted a breakfast at their hotel on Monday morning- the Tradewinds Resort in St. Petersburg, Fl.- a beachfront resort located across the bridge from the Tampa Bay Times Forum- a somewhat inconvenient location should flooding occur.
"We'll have a captive audience in more ways than one" Zak joked with regards to the event.
But business as usual seems to be the motto for many of the delegations. The delegation from Iowa said on Sunday, "we're monitoring the situation, but we're still at our hotel and planning to hold a breakfast Monday."
Virginia's delegation has not yet canceled any events either, a representative told ABC News.
The delegation from Alabama said they were planning some "alternative events" for the day.
"Since the convention is postponed we are creating an alternative plan for our attendees that includes events such as a showing of the 2016 movie, lunch and more to come" said Brooks Simmons, spokeswoman for the delegation.
Isaac has the potential to affect Alabama, so several members of the state's delegation- including their Governor, Robert Bentley, and Rep. Jo Bonner- have backed out of the convention.
The South Carolina delegation is not letting a little bad weather stop their fun. Their schedule for Monday includes "GOP Bingo," happy hour, a trivia contest, a cigars & putting contest, and the night wraps with Senator Lindsey Graham's milk and cookies party- all of which is scheduled to take place at the Innisbrook resort in N. Palm Harbor, where the delegation is staying.
Though a tropical storm warning is currently in effect for Tampa, the latest forecast shows Isaac's projected path moving west, away from the Florida coast, meaning that things are currently looking positive for these delegates, who have eagerly awaited this event for many months.
For now it looks as though delegates are simply going to enjoy a relaxing day in Florida… albeit not a sunny one.
ABC's Chris Good contributed reporting from Tampa.