As South Florida begins trying to dry out, Floridas Panhandle to the Big Bend --which has been saturated by weeks of near daily rain --continues to be a worry to state emergency officials from Tropical Storm Isaac.

The storm may grow to a Category 2 withmaximum sustained winds between 96 miles per hour and 110 mph, as it reaches Louisiana.

Speaking to delegates from Florida and South Carolina on Monday, Gov. Nikki Haley said those from the Sunshine State are being counted upon to carry presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to victory.

We cant win this without you, Haley told the delegates during the Fresh From Florida steak-and-egg breakfast at the Innisbrook Resort and Spa in Palm Harbor.

Tropical Storm Isaac appears to be headed to New Orleans, but Gov. Rick Scott said the system remains wobbling and could bring up to 16 inches of rain to parts of Floridas western Panhandle.

The governor, who was appearing at the Florida delegations Fresh From Florida breakfast at the Innisbrook Resort and Spa on Monday morning, said he has yet to make plans regarding the Republican National Convention on Wednesday and Thursday.

House Speaker-designate Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, wasted no time Monday in jumping on former Republican Gov. Charlie Crists endorsement of President Obama.

Weatherford, opening the Fresh From Florida breakfast at the Innisbrook Resort and Spa on Monday, madereference to the stimulus hug that has haunted Crist since 2009.

I didnt know a hug could be that powerful, Weatherford cracked, invoking the image of Crists embrace of Obama now that Crist is also slated to speak at the Democratic National Convention next week in Charlotte, N.C.

Dont tell members of the Florida delegation that they are in some sort of exile, paying for the sins of legislators who wanted the Sunshine State to have more of a say in the selection of the partys presidential candidate.

Located nearly 30 miles from the Tampa Bay Times Forum, delegates exhibited no remorse that part of the punishment from the Republican National Committee for Floridas early presidential preference primary is having to hunker down in the lush Innisbrook Resort and Spa, a gated golf course and spa community in Palm Harbor.

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry doesnt believe Isaac will drown any bump one can typically expect following a national convention.

Once we get through, this thing blows by, the convention will go on, Romney will be on stage communicating his message, his image, as will Paul Ryan and his surrogates, Curry said Sunday at Innisbrook Resort and Spa in Palm Harbor.

Still, Curry said, regardless of the weather, the campaigns have always been expected to ramp up after Labor Day, as both parties complete their national conventions.

Florida delegates may vote against -- or voice their disapproval of -- a portion of the national partys platform aimed squarely at the Sunshine State.

The Republican Party's Convention Rules Committee on Sunday approved stricter regulations for any state that in the future violates party rules by moving a scheduled presidential preference primary up on the calendar.

The new rule would reduce Floridas delegation from 99 members to 10 if the state decides for the third consecutive cycle to move up its primary.

With Florida now under a state of emergency because of Tropical Storm Isaac, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus released a statement Saturday evening that virtually cancels day one of the 2012 Republican National Convention.

First, Gov. Rick Scott announced he was giving up his Monday night stage time at the convention to focus on the storm, expected to reach the Florida Keys on Sunday.