Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who this week is to accept the GOP presidential nomination, told reporters in St. Paul by satellite hook-up from St. Louis Sunday that the partisan political hullabaloo must take a back seat to preparing for the meteorological threat headed toward New Orleans and surrounding Gulf Coast region, Roll Call reported.

While ordering Republican convention officials to switch from celebration to preparation, McCain said it's time for "taking off our political hats and putting on our American hats."

The four-day convention starts Monday in St. Paul and McCain said he still hopes to make an appearance.

"This is a time when we have to do away with our party politics," McCain said. "We will act; we will act together. We will provide the necessary relief, the necessary comfort. We will open our arms, as Americans always have."

Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan said convention delegates would gather at the Xcel Center at 3 p.m. Monday and then adjourn about 5:30 p.m., handling only essential party business so McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, can be officially nominated, Roll Call said.

All other official events planned for Monday were scrapped, though McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said speakers might be rescheduled later in the weak.