Alternate delegate Eugene Jorissen joined more than 50 other people from Michigan Tuesday to give blood for victims of Hurricane Gustav. Photo by Mark T. Osler

When pundits refer to “bleeding hearts,” they usually mean liberal Democrats. But Eugene Jorissen and many of his fellow Michigan delegates became bleeding-heart Republicans at their national convention Tuesday when they donated blood for victims of Hurricane Gustav.

As delegates in St. Paul, Minn., worked to raise money and provide relief for those affected by the storm, many collection plates and jars appeared. Brainstorming Sunday morning about how to help hurricane victims, the Michigan delegation decided to make their effort personal, says state party spokesman Bill Nowling. They hatched the idea of a blood drive and arranged it with the Red Cross.

“We felt this was the best way we could help in an immediate way,” says Nowling just an hour after making his own donation.

Jorissen, a veteran blood donor, hadn’t given since January, making him a perfect candidate to lie down and donate a pint of O-positive. “That wasn’t high on my list of what I was going to do here,” Jorissen says. “But I’m glad I did.” By Tuesday evening, the drive, having collected about 50 pints from Michiganders and delegates from other states, was still going.

Jorissen skipped a reception at an apartment penthouse with panoramic views of the Twin Cities, the state Capitol and the Mississippi River to get into the convention center early. He wanted to be sure to see the video speech by President Bush and the speeches by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and former senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee (and of TV’s Law and Order).

Getting to the convention venue at the Xcel Energy Center proved to be problematic. Protesters scrambled traffic. Jorissen’s bus encountered a few peaceful protests but none of the near-rioting that hampered the convention on Monday.

The bus finally entered the closed-off perimeter area blocks from the convention center. “Oh, there’s the dog,” Jorissen remarks when a bomb-sniffing canine took a whiff of the bus. The bus was duly searched and then allowed to proceed.

After Monday’s truncated convention session, Jorissen was looking forward to a “regular” evening. He stood and applauded with the rest of the delegates as veterans were honored and Bush appeared by video. He laughed as Bush made a reference to McCain being unafraid to say when he disagrees with someone. “Believe me, I know,” Bush said.

The session was everything that Monday’s abbreviated session was not. It featured signs that read “service,” a reference to McCain’s theme for the night. Delegates, including Jorissen, dressed in red, white and blue. They rose to their feet again and again, cheering each of the speakers as if making up for the lost vigor of Monday night.

High up in the arena, Jorissen, an alternate delegate, sat just below ABC’s skybox. A couple of ABC staff members came over to request that he not wave signs in front of their cameras. In return, Jorissen received some ABC swag, including a nice gym bag, a polo shirt and a cap.

“My wife will be very happy I got another hat,” jokes Jorissen, who already owns plenty.

Elaine S. Povich is a freelance writer who covers politics.