With Hurricane Gustav rapidy approaching the Gulf Coast, the Republican National Convention may well be getting a massive overhaul. Rather than delivering political speeches and partying, Republicans would be transformed into volunteers to collect donations and goods for those in the path of the storm. McCain, who delayed his 2000 announcement due to genocide in the Balkans, says that helping victims takes precedence over helping those in harm’s way.

Sources told The Post that McCain himself might visit the Gulf Coast during the week of the Republican National Convention, which begins tomorrow. McCain is not scheduled to make his nomination speech until Thursday.

The contingency plan – a worst case scenario if the storm devastates coastal areas – would turn Republicans into Red Cross-type volunteers who would help collect donations, food and goods to help storm victims…

“It wouldn’t be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster,” McCain told Fox News in a pretaped interview airing today.

Excellent idea. What’s more important? Partying in silly hats or helping those in harm’s way?