Charley on the LYNX light rail
I’m now remembering, not very fondly, how much of going to a national convention is pure rigamarole. Every morning I need to get into town, find a legit parking spot, get on the light rail, get my press credentials or tickets for that day’s events — a fair amount of goat rodeo before you actually talk to anyone about anything relevant.
That being said, Charlotte’s a lovely city; I’ve come here twice before to sing, and enjoyed it. It’s got a fairly compact, walkable downtown (called “Uptown”), a cute little light rail system and nifty shoppes just southwest of Uptown. The entire downtown is taken up with convention hullabaloo; streets are jammed with folks of ethnic and age diversity. Frankly I’m a little disappointed that there aren’t more gigantic Uncle Sam hats and general Americaphernalia; on the other hand, there is boocoos of Obamaphernalia. There are gory anti-abortion ad trucks circling the downtown, and there was another ad truck covered with “Democrats: Where socialism and corruption come together”, or somesuch teapartyisms.
I’m now blogging from “thePPL”, which is a para-convention spot to sit down, charge devices, blog, drink coffee and whatnot. It’s entirely acceptable, if not glam.
Let me know some angles you’d like me to pursue. What are your priorities? What would you like to know? I’m in pursuit of some targets — can’t disclose just yet. Be in touch!
Discuss
4 Comments . Leave a comment below.They have some of the strongest “rights to work” laws in the country…
I also read about the state’s views on same-sx marriage…
Do you think Obama will talk about either issue during the convention? Real Clear Politics has 4 polls showing Romney winning NC with a fifth poll saying it’s tied. Wonder what ads Romney will be playing in NC, maybe some footage of Obama’s positions…
Why on earth would the Dems reward North Carolina with their convention? And what a hoot to see Obama and Elizabeth Warren, who give the image that they are fighting Wall St and helping Main st everyday, even though they both are getting Wall St. donations, but the convention is happening in the BANK OF AMERICA Center… yuck, yuck. How fitting is that?
I’m getting a pretty good feeling about Romney’s chances of winning. I’m not ready to call it yet as a blunder here or there could swing voters, but I’m feeling like Mitt could do it this time. Ryan should go tho NC and make a big speech this week.
…yet I’m not aware of evidence that locating your convention in a given state consistently gets that state to vote for your ticket. NC is within the margin and went for Obama last time. However, I also don’t believe when selecting a convention site you should completely rule out a state because you don’t like its policies. The Obama/Warren platform is less friendly to Wall Street than the alternative (Can you cite Wall Street donations, especially for Warren who is running against “Wall Street’s favorite Senator”?), which is what counts and Bank of America just means they bought the naming rights. Both labor and marriage equality are important to the base so I expect they will get plenty of play.
if the DNConvention figured out a way to have more state-level outreach while they’re in town. If I felt that the on-the-ground advocates for Democratic positions in North Carolina were getting more training, more motivation, more thanks and praise, and in general will be in a better position to make state-level gains in those Democratic platform areas, then having the convention in a swingy state would be oh so much more compelling.
Interviews with anyone interesting you can get…
« Blue Mass Group Front Page
Tue 21 May 2:52 AM