Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention

Another night of tremendous excitement as Senator Joseph Biden delivered an emotionally rousing recantation of his life’s story and then launched an attack contrasting Senator McCain’s views with Senator Obama’s vision. President Clinton’s speech poignantly reminded us of a prosperous America and Senator Obama’s surprise appearance in the hall brought an ear splitting roar which was the last of many moments which tonight sent a shiver up the backs of delegates.

Earlier in the evening, delegates cast our votes for the nomination, although Pennsylvania was never reached in the roll call. In contrast to the significance of the ceremony of the delegate vote and the vast resources spent by the candidates to obtain delegates and secure those votes, the mechanics of the vote itself is quite simple.

The DNC provided the Pennsylvania Delegation a multi-page list of delegates; each delegate having their own line with columns to indicate their vote by check mark and a column for the delegate’s signature. During the morning, the list was available to execute in the delegation office at the hotel. Prior to the drop of the gavel, the list was brought to the convention hall, where Governor Rendell personally maintained the list as he walked around the delegation collecting each delegate’s vote and signature. The nearing deadline caused frantic cell phone calls and searches for delegates who had not yet voted, particularly public officials who may have been embarrassed had they failed to vote.

Added today to the accoutrement of paraphernalia on the mini podium which is set up near the delegation stanchion was a laptop computer which featured a running total of ballots cast during the roll call of states. The roll call never reached Pennsylvania due to the lengthy time which our predecessor states took to recognize their various geographical peculiarities and agricultural products. The pass to Illinois pass to New York sequence which ended the roll call was scripted for 4.30 p.m. local time, so by 4 p.m. we knew that Pennsylvania’s chance of being recognized dwindled every time another state’s delegation acknowledged an additional variety of pie unique to its environs. Had things gone a little faster then maybe another 4 or 5 states could have gotten down the road to permit Governor Rendell to wax poetically about the virtues of cheese steaks and soft pretzels.

Another thing that I have been asked about is the mechanics of the coordinated sign display. The organization of signs is a far more elaborate undertaking than the balloting to determine the Presidential nominee. In the moments before a sign change, about a half dozen floor whips within our delegation circulate the various signs with instructions on the manner of display (holding, waiving, rotating). A cue from the lead whip then results in the convention floor changing from red to blue. This seems to happen about forty times a night, and by the end of the evening there are mounds of garbage between the aisles, which is promptly scavenged for souvenirs.

There were celebrities today in our delegation’s section on the floor: former Pittsburgh Steeler great Franco Harris, who is a Delegate from Allegheny County, and the actress Morgan Fairchild, who is, um, well, really pretty and was apparently in need of a place to sit. She has actually always been politically involved and is currently working on a get out the vote project. Also today, I got a good up close look at CNN’s Anderson Cooper and he really is a dead ringer for Delaware Democratic Party First Vice-Chairman Tony Campisi.

Today's breakfast brought the pleasant surprise of a tap on the shoulder from Dorothy Gallagher, President of the Delaware County Federation of Democratic Women and long time leader in Collingdale. Dorothy is in town staying with her daughter, who moved to Denver about 9 years ago, and taking in some of the convention festivities like this morning’s delegation breakfast.

Until tomorrow.