McCain, Obama wrestle with hurricane politics

ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Presidential rivals John McCain and Barack Obama wrestled on Sunday with the political risks of another storm bearing down on New Orleans, three years after Hurricane Katrina drowned the city -- and devastated President George W. Bush's legacy.

The approach of Hurricane Gustav forced a hasty curtailment of the Republican convention's opening-day schedule on Monday and presented an unpredictable series of political challenges for the White House candidates.

Republican McCain and Obama, a Democrat who accepted his party's nomination on Thursday, searched for the best ways to show compassion and action in the face of the impending storm while trying not to look like political opportunists.

For both candidates, Gustav could present a dangerous brush with hurricane politics.

"It's a very fine line to walk. So much of politics is gesture and symbol, and you can easily be seen as overdoing it -- or not doing enough," said Bruce Buchanan, a political science professor at the University of Texas. "They can't act like nothing is happening, but it's easy to go over the top."

McCain, fearing televised images of the usual convention activities and celebrations would be inappropriate, ordered the suspension of most of the opening day's schedule on Monday.

"Of course this is a time when we have to do away with most of our party politics," McCain told reporters in St. Paul, Minnesota, via satellite on Sunday from St. Louis, Missouri.

The storm's approach almost exactly three years after Katrina hit New Orleans conjured up reminders of the failed response to that disaster, which left a permanent scar on Bush's legacy and hastened his slide in popularity.

The opening-day changes wiped out planned appearances by Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney -- a relief to some Republicans worried about reinforcing Obama's efforts to link McCain and the unpopular president.

McCain visited a hurricane command center in Mississippi before leaving the storm zone, and his campaign avoided any discussion of political fallout.

"We don't have the luxury of trying to evaluate the politics of this situation," McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis told reporters.

For McCain, an Arizona senator, a strong response and a smooth recovery on the Gulf Coast could send a message he would lead a Republican Party with a more responsive and competent approach to national crises than the Bush administration had shown.

BENEFIT REPUBLICANS?

"It could actually have an unexpected political benefit for Republicans, depending on how they handle it," said Julian Zelizer, a history professor at Princeton University.

Obama, an Illinois senator, said he did not want to disrupt operations on the Gulf Coast by visiting the region, but promised to galvanize his e-mail list of 2 million donors to assist in hurricane relief efforts.

Even that decision carried political risks. In addition to the problems with relief efforts in New Orleans after Katrina, Bush was heavily criticized for not visiting the region earlier.

"Neither party can be confident this will play out to their advantage," Zelizer said. "They just have to avoid looking crass."

Leaders of the states in Gustav's sights moved quickly to avoid the fate of Louisiana Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco, whose reputation never recovered from the failed Katrina response. Her successor, Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, promised close and quick cooperation with federal authorities.

Not every politician found his reputation in tatters after Katrina. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, a Republican who is still in office, was praised for his efforts after Katrina.

Other governors have benefited from their storm relief efforts. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother, was praised for his hurricane relief work there.

The uncertainty created headaches for both parties. The disruptions to the Republican convention, a tightly scripted event that has been planned for months, could minimize the political benefits of McCain's nomination and his new choice of running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"This is so unpredictable -- it's the exact opposite of what political professionals strive for," Zelizer said.

(Editing by Howard Goller and Patricia Zengerle)