McCain, Palin to visit Mississippi ahead of Gustav

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain and vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin will travel to Mississippi on Sunday to view preparations for Hurricane Gustav, campaign officials said.

McCain, a senator from Arizona, has strongly criticized fellow Republican President George W. Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast three years ago.

McCain told a rally on Saturday the region was in his thoughts and prayers and has said the Republican Party could postpone next week's convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, if a natural disaster was taking place elsewhere in the country.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Peter Cooney)