TAMPA, Fla. (MCT) — Greeted by rain and howling wind, Republicans gathered Sunday for a convention partly waylaid by Tropical Storm Isaac, which threatened to swamp this low-lying city and hijack precious days of attention from presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.

Having already canceled Monday’s opening schedule, strategists for the unofficial GOP nominee said they managed to squeeze most speakers into three remaining days and would not alter the convention program as a result of the unfolding natural disaster — though that could change.