NEW YORK CITY — The Republican National Convention kicked off Monday with a bang. Make that a twang.

To the backdrop of country music awash in patriotism, thousands of festive Republicans danced and cheered and thundered their support for President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

And while the former is a foregone conclusion, the latter was caught in a swirl of rumors Monday that he was soon to be replaced on the GOP ticket by Arizona Sen. John McCain — Monday night's keynote speaker.

"He is one of the most admired and respected men in America," South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham said of McCain to delegates at Madison Square Garden.

And for that reason — and the fact he is a moderate Republican with crossover appeal to Democrats — the rumor mill was running amok.

The Utah delegation, still aglow after a day of receptions and party pep rallies, dismissed the rumors out of hand, pledging their unified support for Cheney.

"I would be stunned if it happened," said Utah GOP chairman Joe Cannon, who suspects the rumors originated within the Republican Party. "I love Dick Cheney. He is an authentic conservative and a brilliant person. It is unimaginable."

"But," he added, "I have been wrong on a lot of things."

Monday night's festivities were wrapped in patriotism, from families of 9/11 victims recounting their faith to a deafening moment of silence for the victims and a rendition of "Amazing Grace" that left convention delegates in tears.

Even the relegation of the Utah delegation to the back row in the far corner of the convention hall could not dampen spirits.

Utah delegate Tim Bridgewater called the evening's festivities "inspiring," particularly the speeches of McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

"They evoked a lot of emotion," he said. "It reminded us why it is important to have leadership during a time of global change. We have enemies throughout the world."

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said he was "blown away" by the emotion and patriotism of the event, which featured comments from the wives of three men killed during the Sept. 11 attacks.

"It puts it all in perspective," he said. "It renewed feelings of patriotism, service and a resolve not to let it (9/11) happen again."

It was McCain who first roused the crowd with his stirring defense of the war against terrorism.

"This is a fight between right and wrong, good and evil," he said, adding only the most deluded would doubt the necessity of the war. "We must see this war through to a just end."

In the conspiracy-laden world of national politics, every nuance is analyzed and reinterpreted. For example, McCain was campaigning with the president whereas Cheney was keeping a low profile in New York.