Following our adventure at the Curtis Hotel, we made the trek over to the Hampton to pick up our credentials and then took off towards the Pepsi Center. Once inside, we attempted to make our way down towards the floor of the arena as we had yesterday, however this time we were denied access. Apparently, we somehow managed to sneak in yesterday without even realizing it. Either way, we were able to take some amazing pictures of the floor. The scene was enough to leave us in utter amazement.
Later in the afternoon, as we exited the Pepsi Center, we were greeted by a rather large group of demonstrators who had decided to riot right outside of the security gates surrounding the site of the DNC. What seemed to be an anti-war protest drew several dozen police to the site who appeared to be more than qualified to come to the rescue in the case of an angry outburst. I'll let the photos do the talking... it was unlike anything I have ever seen.
Unfortunately for us, due to the massive swarm of people that had invaded the area, we were unable to get out of the parking deck, which meant that we would once again be confined to the over-priced food that the Pepsi Center had to offer. So instead of momentarily escaping the madness for a quick bite of "real food," we reluctantly settled for a basket of pricey chicken tenders and fries (although I must admit that they were much better than the $7.00 hot dog I ate two bites of on Monday night).
After re-entering the arena, it was utter chaos. Although I didn't think it possible, the site was more chaotic than it had been at any time during the previous two days. The combination of Bill Clinton and Joe Biden was enough to send cameramen into a frenzy and cause women in heels to run as if sprinting to the finishline in the last leg of a marathon race. Needless to say, the place was buzzing withn an energy unimaginable. This became especially true when Obama made a surprise appearance following Biden's speech.
In addition to the excitement found in the routine line-up of the day, Becca and I ran into a few notable people during our all-too-frequent trips from the press filing room to the upper levels of the convention center. We spotted Katie Couric walking out of her dressing room, ran into Luke Russert while on the convention floor, and saw CNN's chief national correspodent John King on a number of occassions.
Following the conclusion of the night's festivities, we set out to find a couple of events that we had heard about throughout the day. The first one we stumbled upon felt more like a garage band concert than anything else and was complete with praise for Obama and everything but for Bush and McCain. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the entire event was the sign that stood atop a warehouse building behind the stage. Illuminated against the tranquil night sky stood dozens of bike tires that spelled out the word HOPE. A very clever idea indeed, however the message being conveyed by the Obama pictures hanging below the spectacle don't have me convinced.
Although I did not agree with anything that was said throughout the duration of the event, I must admit that it was nice to witness young people coming together for a common cause. When it comes to politics, I am not concerned with convincing others to take my side. In my personal opinion, it is more imporant to evaluate all candidates and make an informed decision based on the issues that you feel are imporant. Your decision to back a candidate should be rooted in what you believe in and your confidence in that person to uphold those beliefs, whatever they may be. It was refreshing to see people rally behind a shared ideal, even if I don't necessarily share their perspective.
Well, that about does it for tonight! Stay tuned for more... tomorrow will be historic.
