Mr. Obama Goes to Washington

Dad says goodbye at school, then tries to instruct George on diplomacy.

Monday
November 10
Chicago to Washington, D.C.

Barack Obama will have his first meeting with George Bush as president-elect at the White House today. But first, the pool gathers and follows him to the University of Chicago Lab School were the First Dad drops off Malia and Sasha, 2 very adorable daughters, at the school. Dressed for his usual morning workout, Obama emerges first from the SUV, reaches in and carries each girl to the street. The girls seem to relish in the attention from us 4 photographers and ABC camera crew. Malia seems to be carrying a flute case and both girls have large, overstuffed backpacks. Each gets a kiss and hug from Dad, and they are off.

Dad goes to the gym, then home to change, then we head to O’Hare airport. Since he is not president yet, we actually have to weave our way through traffic, though with 2 Chicago police cars in front and several SUV’s full of Secret Service agents it’s much easier than doing it yourself. We climb on board an American Airlines charter flight, a MD-80 plane for the 20-25 or so people in our entourage. Gone is the 757 Change We Need Obama plane used by the campaign.

The president-elect wanders back to the first row of economy to talk to some aides and we get shots of the relaxed man just hours from the historic meeting in Washington.

Much warmer in Washington as we arrive, this time he gets the full presidential treatment as they close down highways and streets. Large groups of people gathered on corners along the route cheer as the motorcade drives by. We enter the White House South Lawn and race out of the mini-bus only to miss Bush greeting Obama. Fortunately all in the pool have colleagues to get that photo, then we all run into the Rose Garden. In all the rushing I forget to look around and realize I’m at the White House that you usually see on tv or in photos. The future and almost former president walk along the ‘Colonnade’ for a photo op, occasionally waving and smiling to the harried photographers.

We then retreat to a cramped media room to send the photos.
I find a spot on top of a recycling trash can near an electrical outlet and spend the next hour on my knees peering into my computer to send the pictures. I see lots of friends from AFP and the other wire services. At the appointed time the pool is herded out to the motorcade, I stop and snap photos of the front of the White House like a tourist.
More crowds on the streets wave good bye to Obama and we head home to Chicago after an eventful day in Washington.

Election Night

Tuesday
November 4
Chicago

Grant Park in Chicago was the site for the huge election night rally for Barack Obama. I had been there with AFP technician Jerry since late Friday setting up our coverage and dealing with the Obama advance team. I had the head-on position at the main press area, so I had a clear view of the stage.

Giant tv screens were set up around the park and CNN was the network of choice.
It was an amazing sight to see the thousands of people cheering as a state would be declared for Obama. The electoral vote tally kept increasing for Obama and at one point it really seemed certain he would win. Then shortly after 10 pm central time, the giant tv screen announced:

“CNN Projects
Barack Obama
Elected President”

A huge roar from the crowd as people cheered and many cried. In the frenzy to take pictures to capture the moment, I kept thinking, wow, it really happened.

Compared to other election night celebrations I’ve been to where there is a band playing or music in a hotel ballroom for donors or the well connected, this really seemed like a gathering of just people. I think the excitement was almost unbearable for some as they then waited for Obama to come out. “The new First Family” as they were announced, came out, Barack, Michelle with the 2 most adorable daughters Malia and Sasha come walking out onto the stage to another huge roar from the crowd. Along with Joe Biden and his family it was quite a scene.

I talked Vincent, the boss in Washington, who was walking in the streets of D.C. and he described people celebrating spontaneously, something he’d never seen there.
It was a long day for us, and almost hard to believe Obama had won and that America had really voted him in. T-shirt sales were brisk and the cashier at the pizza place we ate at already had his “Commander-in-Chief, President Barack Obama” shirt.


In front of the Obama stage and the sign marking our spot on the main press area.

Final day (for me)

The Indy mud bog and the photo pool: Bruce, Alex, Raul, Jim, Ozier, Stan in front of Palin store.

Wednesday
Oct. 8
Indianapolis
Final day (for me)

Rainy departure from Nashville to a cloudy and drizzly Indianapolis. We’re all fearful of the outdoor rally at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, which apparently has become a mud bog. Fortunately drizzle lets up but stage is in the middle of a sea of mud. Wood boards cover the ground next to the stage where we kneel to photograph Obama speaking, but hard to escape the mud. Very loud crowd, usually at each event someone yells out, “I love you Barack”, and he answers back, “I love you back.” Which starts another round of cheers.

NY Times photographer Ozier Muhammad has a birthday today and he is met by his son and grandson and family friend at the rally who live in the area. Katie the press aide arranges for the four to go backstage to get a group shot with the Senator, which Ozier is very happy about. Great birthday present.

Long work time built in after the rally for the media and there are barbequed ribs and chicken for us, rice, macaroni and cheese. Plus I think a sheet cake cut up. One of the better lunches. On our way out of the fairgrounds we pass what looks like a small general store with the name “Palin” on the front. The photographers and tv crew jump out and we enlist Dean, the agent, to take our photo.

A short flight to Chicago and we are back at the Fairmont Hotel, the Senator off to home and exercise. So my short trip on the campaign trail is done- 9 days, 9 states, 11 flights.

It was a great experience, seeing how passionate and energized people are about Obama. And to see him respond to people, which he does in a very personal way. I think the campaign sees a pretty hard road ahead of them and most on the plane, especially the candidate, don’t get too optimistic. He’ll always say, “IF I’m president” in speeches, and people always respond, “WHEN you’re president”. Obama then says he’s superstitious and doesn’t want to sound too confident. I suppose all workers in all campaigns work for the bigger cause, but these workers do seem to think they are part of something historical, beyond the ordinary presidential politics. 27 more days.

Stan

At the Candidate's Debate

Tuesday
Oct. 7
Nashville

A 10:15 am start this morning, so everyone looks more relaxed. Though the countdown has started, talk of this being 29 days to the election. Fairly routine this morning, we pick up the Senator at the Grove Park Inn, comes out with sunglasses, no tie. Fly to a rainy Nashville for tonight’s debate. Go directly to the debate site at Belmont University, we hang out while Obama does a ‘walk through’ to view the stage and logistics. Usually lasts 30-45 minutes. There were a few of us that returned to our pool bus early and all of a sudden we see flashing police lights and the motorcade comes roaring out of the garage. Everyone jumps onto the bus and we manage to leave behind several people- the NY Times and Newsweek photographers and a couple of reporters who had lingered in the debate media center. But shuttle busses will take them back to the hotel where we are headed, no activities to cover anyway. We can go to our rooms, so I talk with the AFP technician at the debate hall and have him set up my computer for tonight.

Being in the pool tonight means arrive at the debate hall at 7:30 for the 8:00pm Central time debate and getting to the spot where I will shoot from, setting up my computer and getting all the software running all while being wedged in among the photographers already in position. Lots of contortions as I shoot the debate and squat down to reach my computer. Both candidates seemed to be not taking any risks, resulting in a boring debate.

As soon as the debate ends, I get some shots of Michelle greeting the Senator, then I’m collected by a campaign worker and secret service agent and we head to the pool bus, it’s pouring rain out now. Obama spends 45 minutes in the debate hall shaking hands with people so we wait in the bus. At one point we see flashing lights and a motorcade appears. After a few seconds Scott, our agent on the bus says, “that’s Phoenix!” and to the bus driver, “don’t go”. Turns out it’s McCain’s motorcade and Phoenix is their ‘code name’ for him. So we didn’t want to get into the wrong motorcade.

We finally leave and head to Al Gore’s house for a surprise visit at a fundraiser. Since it’s a private event, no photos are allowed and reporters are let in for a few minutes during Obama’s remarks. The Gores live in a pretty nice neighborhood, huge houses. Back to the hotel, a very comfortable Lowes Vanderbilt.

The Smokehouse

Monday
Oct. 6
Asheville, NC
The Smokehouse

Every candidate must eat so Sen. Barack Obama decides he needs interrupt his debate preparation and the largest single day point drop in Dow Jones history to go to 12 Bones Smokehouse in the River Arts District of Asheville. First, tieless but with jacket, he makes a statement in the parking lot of The Grove Park Inn, the luxury resort he (but not the media) is staying at, about the economy. Obama starts by saying, "Hope you’re enjoying this beautiful weather. Before we go get barbeque I just wanted to make a brief statement about the economy…” Lots of words about the economy, then off to barbeque.

Again, there is a ‘crowd’ anticipating the ‘surprise’ arrival of the Candidate. 4-5 of us photographers cram in behind the order taker and cashier, apologizing as we interrupt their lunchtime business. Though the 2 women seems quite excited and nervous, one has a Obama/Biden t-shirt from Sunday’s rally in Asheville. Unfortunately it also seems like it’s about 90 degrees inside the smokehouse so we all are soon sweating profusely. In comes Obama to cheers, shaking hands with customers, realizing he’s cut in front of the line and then tries to stand in line. Customers will have none of that, and he is allowed to go to the front. He reads over the menu, consults with woman taking orders and the man in line behind him. From the pool reporter: “ He ordered six sweet teas for himself and his staff, a double order of collard greens, one BBQ plate, a veggie plate and two racks of ribs (12 Bones’ specialty) and some corn pudding. Total price: $66.” (no order for the media) Cashier says it is on the house, but Obama says that would be illegal and he would like to pay. Senator pulls out cash from his pocket, he’s short so asks and aide for $5. They give him a plastic number 1, which they will call out when order is ready.

He wanders the small restaurant greeting and shaking hands with people, as photographers and tv cameramen jockey for position and make our way around Secret Service agents and customers. Restaurant seems to be getting hotter and finally he gets the order in a large brown paper bag. I catch him saying goodbye to customers then run out a side door to see him leaving the front of the place.

Back to debate preparations at the hotel, we start sending pictures on the bumpy ride back to our hotel. No more activities, so we head to our hotel pool to relax.
A relaxing (Monday) evening, went out to a Mexican restaurant that was highly recommended, saw some Obama staff people there. Interesting plates like my lamb and goat cheese enchilada with black beans and rice.

Debate prep

The Candidate and Asheville crowd

Sunday
Oct. 5
Asheville, NC

Finally a full night sleep, and a non-rushed breakfast. One event today, at Asheville High School, crowd estimate of 22,000 inside the football stadium, 6,000 still outside. Obama is preparing for Tuesday’s debate, so not many surprises today. Katie, the press aide promises no OTR and early finish. The candidate holds 2 babies, a white, then a black one. Both amazingly cute. Jacket off for the Senator on this warm day, probably 75 and sunny. Even Secret Service goes without ties, but with jackets. Small pockets of people along route to school, cheering wildly as motorcade passes. Saw a sign, “Turkish Americans for Obama”. We drop Obama at his hotel after the rally, Katie declares a “lid” on activities, which means nothing more will happen, we are free to go. A good night to explore Asheville.

AFP, Reuters and the New York Times all went out to dinner at Vincenzo’s in the downtown area. Just worked out that the 3 photographers and 3 reporters from the ‘pool’ met up. Some complaints about how inaccessible Obama has been, no press conferences, little access by reporters to him. Best guess is that campaign doesn’t want him to say anything crazy.

Should be a light day on Monday, no events planned and 1 hopefully short pool stop at a lunch planned.

Waiting for Obama

Saturday
Oct. 4
Chicago to Newport News, VA to Asheville, NC

Call time for the pool is 6:00am, I get a banana and orange juice in the Fairmont hotel lobby. We head in a mini bus to the Hyde Park section of Chicago, passing a downtown building with Go Cubs spelled out with the window lights. (it is before dawn, still dark out). We end up sitting near the Obama house for a while, the whole block is blocked off to through traffic, unless you live there (we speculated about whether having Obama as neighbor would increase property values). Then to a small park where we meet a Chicago police officer with bomb sniffing dog, who sniffs all our equipment and bags. (this happens every day at each hotel before we leave for the days events). Tyrone the Secret Service agent uses a hand metal detector to check each of us (for weapons). Then we join up with small motorcade of 3 cars in front of the Obama house, which has giant cement traffic barriers placed on the sidewalks and streets protecting it. Off to the gym for early morning workout. We see the Senator get out of car, dressed in black long sleeve and long pants workout clothes. We park, then head to a hip looking coffee shop 1 block away for about 45 minutes.

Earlier was talking with Samantha Tubman, the campaign press aide who is always with us and Nedra Pickler from the AP. I told Nedra that I was married to Ann Levin, she said, “Oh, I better be nice to you.” Then told the others, “Ann’s someone really important at the AP”.

Turns out Samantha is the granddaughter of William V.S. Tubman, who was president of Liberia from 1944 to 1971. Not sure how this came up, but the grandfather and father were born in Liberia. Her father’s family came to the US at a young age and met Sam’s mother. Sam said she really never knew her father since the parents divorced and the father moved to Libera and never saw Sam. So the parallels between her story and Obama’s family history are similar, which amazes Sam.

After hearing this amazing story people talked about things they’ve experienced in the campaign, the most recent being everyone meeting Kim Catrill at the Detroit city hall rally early last week. And how short she is in real life (since according to the watchers of Sex In The City, she’s the tallest one in the show).

Finally the Senator is done exercising and we are off to the airport. Had a brief encounter at the Midway airport, Obama walks out of his car and towards us and says, “Press pool,” we weren’t sure what he was going to say, some thought that we were in trouble, like when the principal at school comes to you.

He thanked us for not photographing the previous night’s dinner that Obama had with his wife and said he appreciated it. Shook hand with Alex, the AP photog, then waved to us and onto the plane. Wednesday on his trip down the aisle of the plane with brownies (I thought they were cookies) he asked the pool to respect their privacy and not photograph their anniversary dinner. We all agreed on that, as the Reuters photog pointed out, he’s not president yet (so still has a bit of a private life). AP and the tv pool cameraman always go on the morning gym “movement” pool and there was one Friday night sitting outside the restaurant where the couple ate. But they never got out of the van and did no reporting.

In Newport News, Virginia for a rally near the port, didn’t have much time to send photos after the rally, I had just enough time to grab a delicious pulled pork sandwich and missed out on baked beans, barbequed chicken and several pies out on the table.

On to Asheville, North Carolina where the non-pool media heads to the hotel, us ‘poolers’ were driven downtown where we just sit and hang out, since there may or may not be an evening event. It’s about 5:45, so we walk a few blocks in this nice town and eat at the Flying Frog café. Not too bad, everyone is amazed at the life in these few blocks and how interesting the town looks.

We drive to the Grove Park Inn, some giant resort where we left the candidate off a few hours ago (and saw David Axelrod get out of the motorcade). The NC Democrats are having a fundraiser and Obama makes a surprise appearance. A short speech and we flee, back at the hotel by 8:15pm. Good news is afternoon event tomorrow in Asheville, we meet up at 12:15pm. Good day for laundry.

Your correspondent at work (left) and waiting for luggage off the plane.

OTR

Early morning departure from Lansing, MI (left) and passionate crowd in Abington, PA

Friday
Oct. 3
Lansing, MI to Philadelphia to Chicago

OTR is our term for the day. It stands for "off the record" stop, really meaning not a scheduled event. (such as a big rally) So when you see the candidate at a diner, ice cream shop, Fred’s barber, that's the unscheduled stop that is really fairly scripted.. Usually set up by the campaign only a few hours ahead, mainly to keep the crowds of onlookers down, which usually never happens. And the media crowd small, which never happens. Though only the pool is allowed from traveling press. More on that later.

Early start today, 6:15am was when we had to be in the Lansing hotel lobby with luggage. We finally loaded the buses, then waited until almost 8:00 am to leave to the airport. Flew into Philadelphia, then motorcaded to Abington High School in Abington, PA. Campaign arraigned for nice row of American flags along walkway where the Senator will walk to the stage, we in the pool dutifully photographed scene. Not giant crowd, but 6,000 by their count, on a breezy Friday morning. Lots of near hysterical people in the crowd as they saw the candidate. Very passionate and emotional crowd, one woman hugged him and broke into tears, overcome with emotion. Saw 2 photog friends from NY who had driven out for the event.

Today's OTR was at Penny’s Flowers in Glenside, PA, about 20 min from the high school. It’s Barack and Michelle's 16th anniversary so the husband candidate goes to buy flowers. $47.70 worth of 12 white roses, nicely arranged, paid with his Chase card. Local media gathered at shop and we all pile in behind the front counter, avoiding the delicate flower displays. Obama comes in to greet the proprietors and is shown roses in the refrigerated case. He walks through the shop to greet employees, which seem to number about 20 for this tiny shop. A pool reporter asks his reaction to House vote on bailout, he said this wasn't to be a planned news conference but dives into the subject anyway. By then, flowers are ready and he smells them, then pays. We run out the front door to get him departing, then he walks across street to shake hands with the growing crowd. Lots of chaos as secret service and police try to keep back swarm of tv cameramen and photographers from the more or less hysterical crowd. He finally finishes, Katie the campaign aide yells for the pool to get on the bus and we run to find it.

On the road to the airport in Philadelphia, we think for a 45 minute ride, enough time to edit and send the zillion photos we just took.

5 minutes later Katie yells, "OTR, WE'RE STOPPING!!!" I throw the computer aside and grab my cameras and run out the bus. I realize one camera doesn't have a compact flash card in it (can't take pictures without it)- I find one in my pocket and put it in as we run. Obama has found elementary school students neatly arranged on a stone fence and sidewalk, they are now screeching with delight as he dives into the crowd to shake hands. Total chaos as the pool is not quite prepared and we make desperate lunges towards the agents to get photos. I manage to get between 2 people and get 1 nice shot of the scene with a smiling candidate.

Then run back to the bus since the motorcade leaves with or without you.
Exhausted we get back on the computers to send the flower shop and hysterical voters and hysterical non-voting kids.
At the airport we get more photos of him talking with people and then getting on the plane. I manage to load these pics into my computer and send the last as we taxi to the runway.

Chicago—We are put up at the Fairmont Hotel, which looks quite fancy. Looks like the pool call time is 6:00am tomorrow morning. But there is a media party thrown by the campaign tonight at a local bar.

Early morning departure from Lansing airport, that’s my shadow 2nd from right.

Battleground State

Michigan State rally

Thursday
Oct 2
Michigan

Finally left Washington about 10pm Wednesday night for Grand Rapids, Michigan. Very gray cold Thursday morning, threatening rain for the 2 outdoor rallies today. We get to Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids where there is a giant red Calder sculpture in the midst of the crowd. Makes for a nice backdrop for pictures. Everyone on media bus and campaign staff are freezing, since we didn't expect temps in the 40's. Crowd estimate at 18,000 by local sheriff, surprising since people say it's a very Republican part of the state.

On to East Lansing and Michigan State campus, where, for some reason, campaign expected only a few thousand, probably got 10,000 or more. Small group of McCain supporters holding signs greeting people as they arrive for rally. Photographed a small black dog, Ace, with Obama sweater on. Wildly enthusiastic crowd, lots of students of all colors going wild. Especially when Obama walks the front row to shake hands after the rally.

Starting to remember some of his lines, after hearing similar speeches over 3 days: "If
anyone makes under $250,000, let's see a show of hands" (everyone in audience raises hands), "My opponent (sometimes mentions Mc Cain by name) has lobbyists working for the campaign. If you think the lobbyists are working hard to eliminate their jobs, I've got a bridge in Alaska to sell you", etc.

Apparently tomorrow or maybe tonight is the Obama's wedding anniversary. Presumably they will celebrate tomorrow night when we are in Chicago, there is some sort of press party thrown by the campaign to keep us occupied.

And lots of people seem to have iPhones here, mainly for entertainment value. There are amazing numbers of things you can download- games, anything. Alex the AP photog has some sort of Star Wars ‘light saber’ photo and noise where you can wave the iPhone around and you get that noise from the movie. So one of the Secret Service agents assigned to watch us had to get it. So they have a ‘duel’ on the pool bus as we wait for Obama to leave Michigan State. We are easily amused.

People gathering in hotel bar to watch VP debate tonight, perhaps to see how bad Palin is.

The Senator and I

Wednesday
Oct. 1
Grand Rapids, MI

We’re in Grand Rapids, Michigan now after flying from Washington. Didn’t see much of Washington except inside of the Mayflower Hotel where we waited for a few hours, then the parking lot of the Capitol building, where we waited for Obama to vote in the Senate on the bailout bill. On the plane ride to Grand Rapids, Obama came walking down the isle with a plastic bowl of chocolate cookies. A friend of his wife’s from Minneapolis had bet the Obamas on the outcome of the Twins-White Sox playoff game, and the Obamas won. So the prize seems to be homemade cookies. I took a piece. Alex, the AP photographer, introduced me to the Senator, then snapped a photo of us. He’s actually shorter than you think, sort of like actors. And apparently Obama is a White Sox fan, so lots of sports talk on the plane.

From the Obama campaign plane

Wednesday
Oct. 1
Washington, D.C.
Bailout vote

I'm in the 'tight pool' group, which is AFP, AP, Reuters, NY Times photographers and 1 tv cameraman (rotates among ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Fox). I think 3-4 reporters also from the major media. We travel in the motorcade with the Senator and have priority at any of the events he is at. A campaign worker (Katie and Samantha) and a secret service agent (Jill) are constantly with us, getting us through crowds, etc. There is a second, larger, non-pool group of media that also travels along in a second big bus. Mainly reporters, and the tv network crews that are not in the pool rotation for that day.

We're on a 757 plane chartered for the campaign, with the Obama logo on the tail and Change We Can Believe In painted on the body. Everyone piles on board, the 'Candidate', aides, secret service, media. Luggage bins overhead in the media section (back of plane) are covered with snapshots people have taken of each other during the campaign. And someone decided to start a collection of hotel keys, taped to the overhead bins. In the media section, we sit 2 people in a row of 3 seats. The Reuters, AP, NY Times and AFP photogs (Me) are in 2 rows together. A staff of flight attendants who fly constantly with the campaign serve meals (not too bad) and drinks.

A motorcade is waiting for us at the destination, we run off the plane and wait for the Senator to get off, take a few photos and run into our mini bus. Then roar off to the destination, usually a hotel. The non-pool bus behind us.

Not to worry:

General feeling among media here is Obama in strong position, no one can figure out McCain or Palin. Lots of puzzled, harsh words for Palin. From a person who organized one of the Bush campaigns and from media traveling with McCain, consensus is that it is poorly run. Also no interesting 'visuals' to show, photograph and lots of boring older people in the crowd. Compare to turnouts of 12,000, 15,000 for Obama, rock star like greeting for him and passionate crowds, and a dynamic speakers leads to much better images of the candidate.

The 4 photogs had dinner with Eric, the 'travel logistics coordinator’, his key function is to make sure all the luggage gets transported. Main talk was about WHEN Obama gets elected, how the campaign workers would fit into new administration. Eric thought Secretary of Transportation would be perfect for him. But many campaign people are political sci. majors, sounds like there are 'policy' positions in various offices in the White House, which Eric said would be realistic.

Today (Oct. 1) on pool bus as we motorcaded through Washington, D.C. for the Senate vote, someone mentioned that our campaign escort, Katie, would be in the White House press office come January.

So media on plane is fairly confident, no one really worried.

The schedule (as of Wednesday, 6:59pm):

Tuesday we started in Reno, Nevada for a rally at the Univ. of Nevada. Flew to La Crosse, Wisconsin to stay at a Holiday Inn. The rally there (this morning) happened to be at a square in front of the hotel. From there to Washington, D.C for this financial bailout bill, I guess as a Senator or as a candidate his motorcade goes flying through red lights and they drive on the left if there is traffic. Waiting now in the Mayflower hotel, for the Senate to vote.
7:28pm, vote delayed for 30 min, so we wait.