Denver: Day Two

MONDAY 2:00 PM: The big question on the first day of the actual convention, other than who picks out my wardrobe, is the relative level of sanguinity on the part of Hillary delegates towards Barack Obama's nomination. The national media is playing up the alleged "feud" between the two camps. In fairness, there wasn't much else to talk about over the weekend, other than a misunderstanding involving one of Denver's Broncos, which was accidentally displayed at the wrong reception and bar-b-qued.

After the PA delegation meeting, I set out to find out first-hand what the state of relations was. The obvious first step was to have a huge lunch. One needs energy. Then a nap. But immediately after that I started personally seeking out Hillary delegates to speak to. At the hotel where I am staying there are delegates from Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Connecticut. I thought that was serendipitously a great cross-section states where Elvis lived and states where Elvis did-not live.

I had about two dozen conversations I can report that while there is some lingering disaffection with the fact that Hillary did not win, I have not spoken to a single person who does not plan to vote for Barack Obama in the fall. A couple of people felt that Hillary had been pushed from the race prematurely. Another was upset she was apparently not vetted for VP. But while all of her supporters had strong views about how she should be treated at the convention, they also all, every single one of them, when asked if they would consider voting for McCain reacted as if I just asked them if they would like a pet ferret.

I would add one additional point. If I were John McCain, I would not be comforted by polls indicating a tight race based on a high percentage of support from Hillary supporters. I may not be the smartest guy on the planet - heck, I may not even be in the top 3 - but I do know a good bit about analyzing political statistics (which is why I'm invited to so many parties). The fact is that once Hillary supporters find out that John McCain wants to criminalize personal reproductive choices, opposes expanding the S-CHIP program, supports perpetual war in Iraq and wants to appoint more Supreme Court Justices like Scalia, any residual anger from the primary campaign will dissipate and those voters will come home.

MONDAY 9:00 PM - I just left the floor of the convention after the first night. It was quite a whirlwind of activity. I walked through the most intense security I've seen at a convention. As I circled the outer-hallway of the Pepsi Center, before I even walked into the main room, I saw Jimmy Carter, John Kerry and a guy who could have been Art Linkletter if he's still alive. If he's not, then it probably wasn't him. He was pretty animated.

I also had a very interesting conversation with Katie Couric of CBS news. I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but it went something like this:

ME: Hey Katie, can I take a picture with you?
KATIE: No.

The speeches ranged from electrifying to stultifying. But it’s hard to blame the speakers. Just because you once, for example, sold a microwave oven to Barack Obama, doesn't necessarily mean you are prepared to address the nation in prime time. The highlights of the night were obviously Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama.

First Teddy. Let me start out by saying I'm not much of a crier. I basically only cry when I hit my hand with a hammer and at the end of Eagles playoff games. But when ambled onto the stage after a tribute from Caroline Kennedy, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. There on the podium stood, perhaps for the final time, the living embodiment of all the hope, promise, nostalgia, disappointment and grief of the Kennedy years from Camelot until today. I personally introduced Teddy at an Obama event just a few short months ago. His voice was raspier and he was clearly weaker than he was back in April but he gave it his all and brought the convention to life.

Michelle Obama had a very interesting task. The Sean Hannitys of this world have made it their business to demonize her. It's probably not personal. It's just them being partisan hacks. If Barack were married to Betsy Ross, we'd still hear how she "hates America" and "only pretends to know how to stitch flags to hide her radical, feminist, tax-raising agenda”. So Michelle had to come across as human and normal, which sounds simple, but is only easy because most of us receive the benefit of the presumption of humanness from those we meet. It's harder to do on national television in the face of months of a smear campaign against your humanity. I should know! (Why is unclear, but it seemed like a good line).

You can draw your own conclusions about how she did. I will tell you that in the hall, she was a huge hit. Even some of the Hillary folks who were holding back on showing the love to all things Obama were moved by her speech. By the way, if you heard someone yell out "Mention Daylin Leach" during a particularly poignant silent moment - that may have been me!

Finally, after the convention ended, I went to a Planned Parenthood after-party. It was interesting in that there were two doors to the event, both leading to the same room, but for some reason, they would only let VIP types into the one door. Apparently, going in the other door leading to exactly the same place was only for riffraff and cretins. Also apparent to me was the fact that I was decidedly not a VIP. I wasn't even an IP, and may not have been a P at all if someone with more juice than I do didn't pull me in through the magical "door for losers". Once inside, I ate shrimp and listened to very loud Michael Jackson music. Maybe the VIPs got special ear-phones at their special door.

Tonight, Hillary and Mark Warner…