several early predictions made by the national hurricane center showed minneapolis-st. paul on the predicted ground track of hurricane gustav. gustav would have long been extra-tropical by the time it reached the area, it could have caused a significant impact to the convention due to rain. most of the convention's activities were curtailed as gustav neared, and president bush canceled his plans to attend the convention. as the hurricane moved inland, its track shifted well to the east missing the area by several hundred miles.