From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Can the Republicans finally get down to business?

Hello again, I'm Arminolny, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most, reporting today from the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. With Hurricane Gustav, a diminishing

distraction, John McCain's convention is trying to get back on track. President Bush will speak

live from the White House, former Senator Fred Thompson, and former Democrat Joe Lieberman will speak in

prime time. But the delegates and the news media are focused on Sarah Palin.

Did her daughter's pregnancy in a corruption investigation take McCain by surprise?

As the torch passes from Bush to McCain inside the Excel Center,

we'll hear about yesterday's protests and the police response outside.

On reporter's notebook later on, Ron Paul, won't go away. First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and

Catherine T. McArthur

Foundation. Hello again, Mormon Alney, back with To the Point. The Republicans spent yesterday raising

money for victims of Hurricane Gustav. Today, it's back to the business of nominating

John McCain and his controversial ticket mate, Sarah Palin. We'll hear a lot about her today.

We'll also discuss the transition of leadership

from George Bush to John McCain, and we'll hear about protests outside the convention hall.

On reporter's notebook, we'll hear about Ron Paul's rally for the republic.

Here in the media center next to the convention hall, I'm joined by Charlie Metazian. He's

National Politics Editor for Politico.com. And Charlie,

...