Cindy McCain and Laura Bush today continued their theme of service, visiting 300 delegates and guests at the Minneapolis Convention Center who were helping to assemble 2,500 packages with flashlights, cotton balls, latex gloves, pain relievers and petroleum jelly for caregivers taking care of those with HIV/AIDS around the world. The event followed a day in which the Republican convention floor was turned over to an appeal to help those displaced by Hurricane Gustav. “This isn’t about politics. It transcends politics,” said McCain, the wife of presumptive GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.). “It should transcend everything that we are standing here today doing. It’s about life as we know it.” First lady Laura Bush added: “Through your generosity, you literally brought people back to life.” The event was sponsored by the ONE Campaign, a group focused on HIV/AIDS around the world, and World Vision, a Christian relief group. “What you are doing today is a very unconventional thing at the convention,” said Princess Kasune Zulu of Zambia, who is working with World Vision. An exhibit of 6.1 million pennies was laid out on the floor — equivalent to the loss of lives to AIDS in Africa since the last presidential election.