TAMPA: Tropical Storm Debby Threatens Site Of Republican Convention

CNN is reporting that the storm surge from Tropical Storm Debby is battering the coastline near the Tampa Convention Center, sending waves crashing onto Bayshore Boulevard, one of the entrance routes into the building. The Tampa Tribune reports that organizers are not worried.

"Ingress and egress into downtown is still available," Buckhorn said Monday. "Bayshore (Boulevard) is really the only problem child, but most of the delegates wouldn't be coming in on Bayshore." In the event of harsh weather, the decision about whether to proceed with, postpone or cancel the convention would be up to the Republican Party and its convention organizers. Convention spokesman James Davis didn't entertain the hypothetical question Monday, saying only that the RNC's staff works closely with federal, state and local officials to plan for every contingency, including bad weather, and to make sure everyone is safe. But another convention insider, Tampa Bay Host Committee president Ken Jones, said he believes there would be "no way this thing would have been canceled."

The storm is predicted to cross central-north Florida and head into the Atlantic where it will strengthen and turn north. The convention begins on August 27th.