Sept. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Laura Bush and Cindy McCain closed a shortened first day of a Republican convention that was knocked off course by news that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's 17-year- old daughter is pregnant, the landfall of Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana and protesters who were dispersed with tear gas.

The daughter, Bristol, is five months pregnant and plans to have the baby and marry the father of the child, according to a statement released yesterday by the McCain campaign, which scrambled to squelch any negative stories about the family of his vice presidential pick.

In Alaska, the campaign contacted the church attended by the Palins and asked them to respect the privacy of the family, according to Wasilla Bible Church Executive Pastor Ashley Brown and Senior Pastor Larry Kroon.

``All I'll say is that Bristol's a young lady,'' Kroon said. ``We care about her and want to support her and the family.''

At the convention in St. Paul, senior campaign aides sought out reporters, insisting that McCain knew of Bristol's pregnancy before he picked her, and blamed Internet ``smears'' for making public what they called a private family matter.

McCain campaign senior adviser Steve Schmidt said the campaign decided to disclose the information because of ``dirty, nasty smears'' on the Internet that Bristol may actually be the mother of Palin's youngest child, Trig.

`The Public Spotlight'

``Many American families have experiences like this,'' said Mark Salter, another senior McCain adviser. ``Unfortunately, it has to play out in the public spotlight.''

In addition to the pregnancy distractions, yesterday's convention also had to compete for television coverage with images of New Orleans' levees holding back Lake Pontchartrain's waters, swelled by Gustav. Convention organizers tried to harness the storm's strength for their own purposes.

Inside the convention hall, Republican aides transformed the opening day in St. Paul into a briefing from Republican governors on the hurricane and an appeal to assist its victims. Laura Bush and Cindy McCain used their brief appearances to ask the audience to make donations and put partisanship aside.

``I would ask that each one of us commit to join together to aid those in need as quickly as possible,'' Cindy McCain said. ``As John has been saying for the last several days, this is a time when we take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats.''

Party Platform

Earlier in the afternoon, the convention approved the party platform, and then quickly went into an hour-long recess. While most celebratory speeches and events were canceled or altered, McCain plans to accept the party's nomination in St. Paul, Minnesota, as will Palin.

McCain, 72, was in Waterville, Ohio, yesterday morning helping volunteers prepare relief packages at a Christian charity organization.

``Everyone should use whatever gift he or she has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms,'' he said, reading from the business card of the charity's chief executive officer, Linda Greene.

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, while keeping to his schedule of events in Michigan and Wisconsin, dropped his planned speech to appeal for prayers and donations for hurricane victims.

On the Floor

On the convention floor, many delegates took the news of Palin's daughter's pregnancy in stride. Conservative activists also stood by Palin and Bristol, saying they approved of her carrying the baby to term and marrying the baby's father.

``I hope they live happily ever after,'' said Phyllis Schlafly, a Republican activist and the founder of the Eagle Forum.

Outside of the convention, some protesters in a crowd of 5,000 to 8,000 began breaking windows, overturning trash cans and hurling debris at police, who arrested at least 13 people and used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

A phalanx of more than 100 National Guard troops in full riot gear and gas masks set up a blockade about three blocks from the convention center to prevent protesters from getting near the Xcel Energy Center, where the convention is being held. Police officers brought in from departments across the state and as far away as Illinois spread across other intersections.

Bush, Cheney

President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney scrapped plans to address the convention yesterday. Bush flew to Texas, where shelters have been set up and relief supplies have been positioned. ``This storm has yet to pass, it's a serious event,'' Bush said yesterday in Austin.

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis dashed speculation that the candidate would use the backdrop of the disaster to formally accept the Republican nomination.

``We have no anticipation that the senator will receive his nomination anywhere but St. Paul,'' Davis said.

Decisions about the convention's program will continue to be made on a day-by-day basis as party officials monitor the impact of the storm, Davis said. Delegates are being kept informed of plans through a text-message alert system.

Republican Chairman Mike Duncan gaveled convention to order yesterday afternoon, asking delegates to use their mobile phones to make donations to the Red Cross.

To contact the reporters on this story: Hans Nichols in St. Paul, Minnesota at hnichols2@bloomberg.net; Christopher Stern in St. Paul, Minnesota, at 1966 or cstern3@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: September 2, 2008 01:25 EDT