Speaking to more than 20,000 delegates, guests and supporters gathered in Minneapolis-Saint Paul and nearly 15,000 journalists by satellite from St Louis, Missouri, McCain said, "We are facing a great national challenge and the possibility of a great natural disaster."
"This is a time when we have to do away with our party politics and we have to act as Americans. We have to join the 300 million other Americans on behalf of our fellow citizens. It is a time for action."
Consequently, McCain said, "We are going to suspend most of our activities tomorrow (Monday) except for those that are absolutely necessary."
He said as Barbour had said, "We will continue to pray for the best and prepare for the worst and I think that's what we are doing as a nation."
"So, ahead of time, I want to thank all my fellow Republicans as we take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats and we say, 'America, we are with you, America, we are going to care for this people in their time of need.'"
"I can hardly wait to get out there and I hope and pray we'll be able to resume some of our normal operations as quickly as possible, but some of that is frankly in the hands of God," McCain said.
Image: Rick Davis, campaign manager and Mike Duncan, chairman Republican national committee, at the Media Center, Xcel Energy Center on Sunday.
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