Is this going to be a first for the GOP? A sitting republican president not attending the convention?

Question

It seems Gustav may turn out to be a left handed blessing for the party. A built in almost plausible excuse to not attend.

If President Bush does not attend, will that hurt or help Senator McCain?

Answer 1

I wondered how they were going to be able to handle this - the republicans I mean - because the "4 more years of the last 8 years" and "McSame" rhetoric is thick and McCain wants to distance himself from Bush as much as possible.  Gustav was the perfect excuse for him to not personally attend the convention.  Come 11/4 though, I don't think anyone will remember one way or the other whether Bush attended the convention.

Answer 2

Dubya would do more harm than good.

Answer 3

I think it also happened with Johnson back in '68.  But of course, that was a very tumultuous time in our country's history.  There was a very unpopular war, the economy was suffering, there were issues of equality among all Americans....yes, distant history indeed.