"I feel a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced." Obi-Wan might as well have been talking about last night’s call by Hillary Clinton to nominate Barack Obama by acclamation. Even as cheers rang throughout the assembled DNC crowd, through the MPR broadcast … Read more
Located on a hellish strip of University Avenue in St. Paul, the utilitarian structure sports the name of the candidate – a name which sparks equal amounts of love, hatred and a lot of stuff in between. The drab walls within, like those for any campaign headquarters, are sprinkled here and there with images of … Read more
We deserve Barack Obama. That is tonight’s message. And Obama has arrived! The crowd roars — everyone on their feet, so many of them smiling, laughing, a few even silently crying. Is this the message of change? He can barely be heard above the din. For three whole minutes the crowd roars, only getting louder … Read more
7:28Inside the press area Obamamania takes no prisoners. The bloggers, who never entertained the pretense of objectivity, are the first to fall. One writer for local blog MNpublius is pacing the press area looking for a way out. "We are quarantined here!" he tells me. "It is morning in America. I wanna be cheering," he … Read more
This is the way the Democratic Primary season ends, not with a bang but a whimper. The presidential campaign that started with a listening tour designed to state the obvious — that people wanted Hillary Clinton to run — will end the same way, with people telling her it’s time to hang it up. Earlier … Read more
Press access to the general public has now been cut off. The only way out of the press area is through the tunnel. According to Tim Russert, Obama’s people are negotiating Hillary’s withdrawal. Hillary insists she should be offered the VP position, so she can turn it down and withdraw with dignity. Obama’s people are … Read more
The screams continue as the overhead screens show MSNBC reporting from right here, the Xcel Center. Ah… now I understand why news reports always show people cheering in the background. They’re just cheering themselves on. How quaint. Somehow, as a viewer, you always assume the cheers are for the politician. (I should have known better.) … Read more
After the press is settled in, the doors open to the general public. It’s about 10 past six. The crowds file in, steadily, slowly, filling the arena. Is this an arena? I think it is. And right now, it feels like we’re the show — broken gladiators. I don’t see anyone turn to the crowd. … Read more
7:00 p.m. Out on the sidewalk, the lines of people snake around the block. A pack of Obama playing cards sells for $10. The Obama volunteers are warming up the crowd as they make their way into the venue. "When I say O," chants one Obama volunteer. "You say…" "BAMA!" the crowd yells back.
Finding the press area was hard enough. All the way on the other side. No, go back the way you came. Straight down there and to the left. Down by the loading area. Across the street. Down. Down. Really? We have to cross the street — away from the Xcel Center — to get in. … Read more