By J. Patrick Coolican

Published Monday, Sept. 1, 2008 | 10:30 a.m.

Updated Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 | 10:15 a.m.

(A team of Sun reporters is at the Republican National Convention this week in St. Paul.)

I'm with the Nevada delegation at the stately St. Paul hotel for a delegation lunch. Party Chairwoman Sue Lowden is leading the lunch. Dallas Augustine, daughter of the murdered Kathy Augustine, and an Assembly candidate, is here. Lots of elected officials. Sen. Cegavske is talking about the platform. She was raised in the Rochester, Minn., area and was on the platform committee. "Exciting," she called the work.

Surprise guest: Sen. John McCain's mother.

Oooooh! Says the assembled crowd.

Comments at lunch from Sen. John McCain's mother, Roberta McCain:

"I’m no public speaker, but I want to thank all of you, on behalf of the McCain family. I’m just sure the right outcome is going to come out of this. As my grandmother said, 'I feel it in my bones.' I want to thank each and everyone of you for what you’re doing for God and our country."

Update: Chairwoman Sue Lowden announces that the joint Arizona-Nevada breakfast will be at 8, not 7:30, which is a great victory for Nevadans, who didn't like the early start time, she jokes.