Published: September 02, 2008 11:18 pm      

Experiencing the RNC with Greg Snowden

Reaching out to the coast

jjacob@themeridianstar.com



Monday night's headliner at the Republican National Convention was supposed to be President Bush. Instead, the convention's first night was headlined by Hurricane Gustav.

The proceedings there were minimal, and the speeches by Cindy McCain and first lady Laura Bush were focused completely on the Hurricane.

Even so, state Rep. Greg Snowden (R-Meridian), is having a good time as an alternate delegate at the convention in St. Paul, Minn. He said that, though the celebratory parts of the convention were put on hold Monday, he's still had some interesting experiences.

"It's an experience to be here," he said. "It's really especially good to meet folks from all over."

Snowden said that, along with meeting people from other states' delegations, he's enjoyed watching some notable people walk the convention floor.

"You see media celebrities walking around. You're standing in the aisle and there's Mitt Romney. It's just fun. It's interesting to see people working," Snowden said.

Snowden has been enjoying himself, but has not forgotten about Hurricane Gustav.

"It's a fun thing," he said of the convention, "but it's a serious thing, too." Though the focus was on Gustav Monday, the technicalities of the convention were on the agenda as well.

"The convention has to go on," he said. "It's a legal process."

But once the legalities were out of the way, Snowden said the convention Monday was less a political event and more an outpouring of support for those touched by the hurricane.

"It was very heartwarming," he said. "When people find out you're from Mississippi they can't talk to you long enough... People understand. People know there are priorities here."

As a Mississippian, Snowden said he has also heard a lot from other delegates about Governor Haley Barbour, who stayed in Mississippi during the hurricane instead of attending the convention as planned.

"There's a tremendous respect for Haley Barbour and what he did during the aftermath of Katrina," he said.

Sen. Roger Wicker and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant were also absent Monday, he said.

As for Barbour making it to the convention at some point, Snowden said, "Speculation is that he will probably be able to come later in the week... Hopefully most of our folks will be here by the end of the week."