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MINNEAPOLIS — The Republican Party platform adopted Monday is about half the size of the 40,000-word version it replaced.

But something’s been added that will be of interest to Floridians.

The party platform for the first time endorses the concept of a national catastrophic insurance program.

It doesn’t detail the specifics of what such a plan would look like but as generally envisioned, a fund would be available to augment existing state and private insurance policies, kicking in if damages reach a certain level. The theory is, rates could be held down if companies know their potential losses are limited. Coverage would be for disasters ranging from hurricanes to earthquakes.

Paul Senft of Haines City, a member of the Republican National Committee who helped draft the platform, said it’s the first time a national party has acknowledged the need for a national catastrophic insurance plan, or Cat fund.

The national Cat fund idea is not popular in the interior states, where hurricanes and earthquakes aren’t a factor. But those areas are prone to tornadoes and floods, Sneft noted. The inclusion of the language in the platform indicates Republicans are nearing consensus on the topic, he said.

Democrats have traditionally been more supportive of a national Cat fund but didn’t include language supporting one in their platform adopted last week, according to Senft. “I hope the other party will amend their platform to include it. It doesn’t matter who gets the credit, it’s the people who need it,” Senft said.

Senft said the coincidental arrival of Hurricane Gustav just as Republicans were gathering to approve their 2008 platform was not a factor in including support for a Cat fund. The language was inserted a week ago, before the threat of Gustav was clear, he said.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain has not been in favor of a national Cat fund. But at least, Senft noted, he didn’t oppose it being in the platform.

* * *

After Monday’s prayerful and apolitical beginning, the convention was slowly transnationing back toward its envisioned agenda.

Florida delegates were asked to remember the Gulf Coast and reminded of prayer services today organized by the Louisiana and Texas delegations.

But at their daily breakfast meeting they indulged in a few partisan jabs at the opposition.

Senft joked that daredevil Robbie Knievel was planning a stunt in the Twin Cities. “He’s going to try to jump over 5,000 (Barack) Obama supporters with a bulldozer.”

Most of the morning session was devoted to pollster Frank Luntz, who does work for Fox News. Luntz, author of the book, “Words that Work,” talked about ways to frame the political discussion to benefit Republicans.

Instead of talking about “tort reform,” Republicans should talk about “lawsuit abuse reform,” he said. “Drilling for oil,” should be “offshore energy exploration,” and the “estate tax” should be renamed the “death tax,” Luntz said.

Based on his work with focus groups, Luntz said Republicans should stress five areas where McCain enjoys an advantage over Democratic presidential candidate Obama.

First is accountability, the ability to mean what one says and say what one means, Luntz said. “There is no one in American politics with more straight talk than John McCain,” he said.

Other McCain strengths include his perceived wisdom, experience, his policies on energy independence and finally, “who John McCain is and what he’s experienced.”

McCain’s military service and captivity translate into an ability to stand up against lobbyists, bureaucrats and other impediments to good government, Luntz argued. “For five and a half years they (Vietnamese) tried to break John McCain and they couldn’t. And he’s stronger today than he was then,” Luntz said.

Luntz shared a few predictions on the November election. The 18 to 24 age group is solidly behind Obama. “That’s not where the swing vote lies,” he said. Middle income Americans in the 40 to 59 age group are those most likely to come over to McCain, Luntz predicted.

McCain must win Florida to have any chance in the election, according to Luntz. He singled out Ohio and Michigan as two other states important to both candidates. A McCain win in Michigan would be a huge bonus, but he believes it is possible. “Michigan is fed up with Democrats,” Luntz asserted.

He said the presence of Sarah Palin on the ticket with McCain has energized Republicans but cautioned she still has tests ahead. “She has got to deliver an awesome speech Wednesday night,” he said.

It is important she be characterized as a reformer who took on a corrupt governor in Alaska, one from her own party, and won. “America wants a winner. In effect, she’s had it all, she’s done it all and she’s been successful.”

Luntz conceded that polling this far ahead of an election is unreliable but said he’s seeing reasons for optimism among Republicans. “Two months ago I would have told you there was no way John McCain was going to win. Now he’s got a reasonable chance,” Luntz said.

* * *

Collier County Republican Party Chairwoman Carla Dean offered the opening invocation at Tuesday’s delegation breakfast. Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp of Cape Coral was the honoree at an afternoon reception.

* * *

Protesters by the thousands have been gathering in St. Paul to confront convention delegates. A group of them blocked a route Florida’s delegation buses were trying to take on their way from the Xcel Center to their hotel Monday, forcing the buses to take an alternate.

Police estimate about 10,000 protesters are in town. Most of the demonstrations and marches have been peaceful, but police reported about 290 arrests Monday, roughly half for felonies. That is almost double the roughly 150 arrests recorded by Denver police during the entire Democratic National Convention last week.