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.
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.
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