ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Though he is not expected in town for today's abbreviated convention activities, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) was nominated to be the temporary chairman of the Republican National Convention.

McConnell was picked for the position in early August, but stayed in Kentucky today amid changes in the convention schedule due to the impact of Hurricane Gustav in the Gulf Coast region. His planned speech tonight was scrapped - along with all other speeches- and the Senator also was scheduled to attend a morning briefing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency about Gustav in Louisville.

Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan - who calls Inez, KY his hometown - presented McConnell's name for nomination as planned this afternoon along with a slate of temporary officers from Kentucky.

The nomination to the position comes after McConnell's opponent, Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville), attacked Republicans during last week's Democratic National Convention for giving McConnell the temporary chair slot. Lunsford said it was an attempt to frame McConnell as a leader, which the Democrat was not deserved.