MINNEAPOLIS—The New York director of John McCain's campaign, Ed Cox, was the featured speaker at the state delegation breakfast at the Marriot hotel this morning.
He acknowledged that the focus of the convention has shifted in response to Hurricane Gustav, but added that McCain was in a position to handle the potential disaster, as well as other national and international issues, in large part because he faced combat while serving in the field.
According to one reporter's count, Cox mentioned September 11 six times.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Cox said, "You run things in the military," Cox said. When asked about the September 11 references, he said, "Some things you do not forget."
New York delegates at the breakfast were not sure what they should do for the day.
Delegates Dave and Helen Reese from Cooperstown said they were going to take a tour of downtown Minneapolis by Segway.
"There's nothing else to do," Helen said. "Last night, we rode up and down the elevators and saw other delegations going to parties, &quot. The New York delegates, she added, have mostly stayed in the hotel because there didn't seem to be much in the way of officially sanctioned activity for them.
"It does seem strange," she said.
Delegate Richard Farren of Manhattan said he may go play golf.
Former Assemblyman Anthony Casale of Cooperstown said he was going to his room to blog for his local paper. "It's really more of a daily diary," he explained.
Joe Dean of Patchogue was undecided.
"If you hear of something, let me know," he told me.
Copyright 2008 The New York Observer
