Delegates moved by visit to ground zero

Suzanne Struglinski

Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 | 9:29 a.m.

Nevada's delegates traveled to the World Trade Center site his week, where two hijacked planes brought down the towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

The administration's handling of Sept. 11 and the war on terrorism was a key part of the convention and delegates got a first-hand look at the site.

Nevada Republican Party Chair Earlene Forsythe called the experience "powerful."

"We are here to honor them (the people who died) and tell the terrorists that they are not going to dictate how we live our lives," Forsythe said.

Nevada's Republican National Committeewoman Beverly Willard said it is "difficult to explain the emotion" she felt while standing at the site.

The group of 20 delegates met with retired firefighter Lee Lelpi, who lost his son Jonathan, a firefighter, in the tower collapse.

Forsythe said he is working through his grief by talking to visitors about the experience.

Clark County Republican Party Chairman Brian Scroggins said the group found Barbara Edwards, a Las Vegas resident who died in one of the hijacked planes, on the list of victims on the fence surrounding the site.

All the debris is gone and the site is now being rebuilt.

Competing hats

The Nevada delegation Thursday night sported white straw cowboy-type hats with Nevada embroidered on navy blue bands during Bush's speech, but they sat behind the large and enthusiastic Texas delegation.

The Texans wore matching cowboy hats and shirts resembling their state flag.

The Texans on the floor would use their hats to signal the other Texans sitting in the upper sections of the hall, chanting songs and cheers back and forth.

Doggie debate

The Bush family dog Barney, a black Scottish Terrier debated a puppet French poodle -- "Fifi Kerry" -- in a humorous video shown in the convention hall Wednesday. Bush's top aides, Karl Rove, Andy Carr and Karen Hughes, prepped the dog and then showed a map of the country turn red to symbolize the whole country voting for Bush, drawing cheers from the crowed.

Faith and politics

Religious delegates have been intertwining their religious symbols with political decorations. Some Jewish participants have black yarmulkes with a "W" and "the president" written under it. Star-spangled crosses with red, white and blue colors are sold in the Grand Old Marketplace along with "Christians for Bush" buttons.

What's in a name?

More officials visiting the delegation have incorrectly said the state's name while telling them how important the state is to the election than have said it correctly.

Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle mispronounced Nevada when she introduced Attorney General Brian Sandoval on Wednesday, causing the delegates in the audience to groan the correct pronunciation as Sandoval came on stage. Sandoval said he was nervous as he waited backstage but as soon as he step on it and saw the delegation "it was like a wave of air," he said. He tugged on this jacket lapel to give a signal to his family watching at home that he was thinking of them.

GOP and NEI

The Nuclear Energy Institute ran ads in newspapers handed out throughout the convention touting the clean-air benefits of nuclear power. One ad said "Support our troops through greater energy security" and showed soldiers standing in a line in battle gear.

NEI, the nuclear industry's lobbying group, co-sponsored an event for Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, who heads the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is a strong supporter of Yucca Mountain.

Signing off

The delegates made sure to add their signatures to the "Nevada" sign that marked their spot on the convention hall floor. Reno delegate Mike Weber planned to take it with him. He has in past conventions, bringing it home for the state party. He was featured on the Republican National Committee Web site leading up to the convention standing next to the state's sign from the 2000 convention in Philadelphia.