Police in heavy black body armour sat sweating in the hot sun. A man in a big white hat delivered a speech to five people. A cluster of Chinese Falun Gong activists practised their tai chi.

President Bush and Vice-President Cheney had been supposed to arrive at the Republican Party convention yesterday through a thicket of mass protests. Hurricane Gustav ensured that neither turned up and that it would be, mostly, a lazy holiday afternoon outside the Xcel Centre.

There was still a demonstration: a little one of perhaps 3,000 people. A police car window was smashed and a litter bin knocked over.

But, like the hurricane that had snatched the object of their anger from them, their force was fading: Storming the convention when neither Mr Bush nor Mr Cheney were inside had lost some of its appeal.

In the hall, a cluster of “greeters” were wearing badges saying “Good to See You!” and “We’re Happy You Are Here!”. By mid-afternoon they were still looking for anyone to greet.

These days party managers usually ensure that any wrinkle of spontaneity is ironed flat. But Republicans in St Paul, having spent $57 million (£32 million) and two years planning their convention, are now operating on a script that has to be rewritten minute-by-minute.

Al Williams, the leader of the convention’s band, said sadly: “It’s all gone. They are telling us they don’t know what is going to happen next.”

Although John McCain still expects to accept the nomination on Thursday, he says that even that will be in “God’s hands”. Yesterday’s schedule was truncated to a “business only” session. Laura Bush and Cindy McCain got ovations from a three quarters-full hall, where they urged people to help Gustav’s victims. “Take off your Republican hats and put on your American hats,” said Mrs McCain. The Texan delegates waved their cowboy hats.

The convention hopes to send 80,000 “comfort packages” — comprising toothbrushes, deodorant, soap and cereal bars — to the region.

But every cloud, even the monstrous ones ravaging the Gulf Coast, has a silver lining, and Republicans can find their own comfort in Gustav.

Whereas once they were fretting over matching Barack Obama’s show, they scored points for not even trying yesterday. Voters were spared the sight of Mr Bush and Mr Cheney passing their tarnished baton to Mr McCain. Instead, the nominee looks presidential as he puts “the country first”.

Mr Bush went to Texas yesterday, hoping to repair some of the damage that Hurricane Katrina wrought to his reputation for competence three years ago. “Nobody is happy about these storms,” he said.

The delegates crowded around TV screens. The emergency effort was working, the rebuilt levees in New Orleans seemed to be holding. The Republican Party prays for the Gulf Coast — and its own redemption.

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