Despite an old fashion backyard wompin' stompin' thumpin', John Edwards vows to carry on. You know it's not going to be a good night when a minute after the polls close, the networks declare your opponent the winner.
We rolled into Jillians (Edwards HQ) around noon. Setup wouldn't happened until 2pm but the satellite trucks were already circling. There's two things most important with live coverage. Prime riser location and a short cable run. We got one out of two. In fact, none of the Raleigh tv stations was assigned riser space. It's bad enough when you forget one of us. We're usually pretty good about working each other in, but when you forget all four of us, that's fightin' words.
There were always two comments on my report cards. Short attention span and doesn't always play well with others. You can't expect much if you show up at the end of the campaign trail, but by god we've been here for two weeks. And you know I made sure they knew it. Eventually everything was worked out, but the me and the girl coordinating riser space exchanged the "evil eye" all night long.
Overall, the night went exceptionally well. Usually when you are set and ready to go two hours before the event kicks off, Murphy's Law creeps in and ruins the night. Not tonight. Everything went smoothly. In fact, we even had time to drop Tim's news vehicle off at Goodyear and have his brakes serviced. We were turning heads during the week as we grind to stops throughout the capitol city. Brake pads and two rotors later, he's back in business.
Edwards came out around 9:30p with his concession speech. He pledged to carry on. How long is the big question. Some believe he can still pull enough delegates to influence the national convention. That's worth a cabinet position.
As for us, we're headed home Sunday. Tim's voice is all but gone. He has the next week off. His vocal cords need it. I'll take Monday then it's back to the old grind. That's the one disappointment about covering a story this big. After it's over, you're back on general assignment, covering city council, crime and the drought.
See ya in 2012.
MB
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Friday 1/25/08 Edwards' Last Stand
We're in the home stretch and talk on the street is John Edwards' campaign is as well. So what keeps him going? Another VP nomination? Cabinet position? Maybe in Obama's White House, doubtful in Hillary's. I applaud his conviction, but it's not cheap running a campaign and there are other avenues to spend money to make an impact on society and the government.
Edwards addressed a crowd of about 100 at the Columbia convention center. This was supposed to be a "get out the youth vote" event, but almost half the folks were over fifty. Edwards reused his line about being the grown up candidate in regards to Monday's debate. Everyone had already heard it so it fell somewhat flat on the crowd. There was nothing new or dynamic to inspire young adults to "rock" the vote. Hard to believe he took this state four years ago with 40 percent of the vote and now he's trailing Obama by double digits. Probably says more about what SC felt about John Kerry than John Edwards.
It's been a great two weeks, but I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed. We haven't been eating high on the hog, but we've eaten well. My body fat index is starting to show it.
My hotel bathroom has a three way mirror. Why I do not know, but I'm hear to tell you, there are certain parts of my anatomy I really didn't need to see. I won't mention the chia pet growing on my back. I can grow hair on my neck, back, shoulders and ears, but not on the top of my head. That is a follicle free zone.
Tim's voice still sounds like an old man's who smoked 3 packs a day for 30 years. Our travels together have always been interesting. First time was the ACC tournament in Washington DC. I ended up with pneumonia. I was transported from the MCI Center via ambulance to George Washington University Hospital with my right lung full of fluid. By the way, my worst experience with the American health care system. Fitting it would happen in the nation's capitol. Two years later Tim and I are returning from Camp Lejeune when the engine blows a spark plug. I mean blasted it right out of the engine. We left the truck in Kinston. And now two more years later here we are expected to be live every 30 minutes from John Edwards' watch party and Tim has no voice. We're taking a crash course in sign language.
So our last horrah is tomorrow night at Jillian's in the downtown district. Tim tells me it was jam packed in '04. Obama will be a block away at the convention center. Hillary will be in Tennessee. At least dinner won't come from KFC. I may have to settle for soup and salad. Don't want those love handles becoming pistol grips.
MB
Edwards addressed a crowd of about 100 at the Columbia convention center. This was supposed to be a "get out the youth vote" event, but almost half the folks were over fifty. Edwards reused his line about being the grown up candidate in regards to Monday's debate. Everyone had already heard it so it fell somewhat flat on the crowd. There was nothing new or dynamic to inspire young adults to "rock" the vote. Hard to believe he took this state four years ago with 40 percent of the vote and now he's trailing Obama by double digits. Probably says more about what SC felt about John Kerry than John Edwards.
It's been a great two weeks, but I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed. We haven't been eating high on the hog, but we've eaten well. My body fat index is starting to show it.
My hotel bathroom has a three way mirror. Why I do not know, but I'm hear to tell you, there are certain parts of my anatomy I really didn't need to see. I won't mention the chia pet growing on my back. I can grow hair on my neck, back, shoulders and ears, but not on the top of my head. That is a follicle free zone.
Tim's voice still sounds like an old man's who smoked 3 packs a day for 30 years. Our travels together have always been interesting. First time was the ACC tournament in Washington DC. I ended up with pneumonia. I was transported from the MCI Center via ambulance to George Washington University Hospital with my right lung full of fluid. By the way, my worst experience with the American health care system. Fitting it would happen in the nation's capitol. Two years later Tim and I are returning from Camp Lejeune when the engine blows a spark plug. I mean blasted it right out of the engine. We left the truck in Kinston. And now two more years later here we are expected to be live every 30 minutes from John Edwards' watch party and Tim has no voice. We're taking a crash course in sign language.
So our last horrah is tomorrow night at Jillian's in the downtown district. Tim tells me it was jam packed in '04. Obama will be a block away at the convention center. Hillary will be in Tennessee. At least dinner won't come from KFC. I may have to settle for soup and salad. Don't want those love handles becoming pistol grips.
MB
Thursday 1/24/08 Former First Lady
In my last email I never answered the question as to whether I felt Mrs. Obama would make a good first lady. No doubt she would and I'm a registered republican. She's smart, articulate, gracious and well grounded. Which is in contrast with her husband's main opposition. I'm not bashing Hilary, it's just hard to see the conviction behind the presentation.
Today was going to be a long one. We were in eastern Columbia and Mrs. Clinton was to speak at 11am in Greenville (western SC). In addition to covering her speech, we needed to drive back to Columbia (2 hours each way), file our story by 5pm and light and shoot the ins and outs for our half "Political Connections" show. The temperature dipped into the forties which made shooting stand ups outside the state capitol lots of fun. NOT!
The surprise of the day was security or lack of it considering this is a former First Lady. Don't get me wrong, the last thing I want to do is get poked and prodded with 50 pounds of gear on my back. We showed our media credentials and we were in. Fantastic considering Tim misjudged the driving time and we almost missed the media cutoff point. Once again the photog gods were smiling on us. We arrived with 10 minutes to spare and found a spot on the front riser. GOLDEN!
If there is one word to describe Mrs. Clinton, it's "machine". It doesn't matter how she presents her agenda, in the end it feels like a machine. Just churning it out. I don't doubt she believes in what she is preaching, but I'm sure she hasn't been to the local Wal Mart in quite awhile.
It was nice meeting the former First Lady, even if it was through a camera lens from 100 feet away. She looked great. ABC news approached us afterwards to see if we got another exclusive interview. We didn't even think about asking due to what we believed would be heavy security.
We hustled back to Columbia, uplinked the package and began lighting the capitol. I'm sure a number of people were wondering what the heck this forty year old man was doing running extension cords across the capitol steps to light two palm trees on the front lawn. I think a couple of network boys thought I was nuts as well.
Much like the candidates, Tim's voice is all but gone. A mixture of flu like symptoms and stress from the daily grind of voicing multiple stories. Scratchy as it was he muscled through the ins and outs. We wrapped at 1op, got a late bite at the local IHOP and called it a night. Hard to believe it , but in the last two weeks I've been on the road with the next President of the United States.
This is why I got into the business. Every day is different.
MB
Today was going to be a long one. We were in eastern Columbia and Mrs. Clinton was to speak at 11am in Greenville (western SC). In addition to covering her speech, we needed to drive back to Columbia (2 hours each way), file our story by 5pm and light and shoot the ins and outs for our half "Political Connections" show. The temperature dipped into the forties which made shooting stand ups outside the state capitol lots of fun. NOT!
The surprise of the day was security or lack of it considering this is a former First Lady. Don't get me wrong, the last thing I want to do is get poked and prodded with 50 pounds of gear on my back. We showed our media credentials and we were in. Fantastic considering Tim misjudged the driving time and we almost missed the media cutoff point. Once again the photog gods were smiling on us. We arrived with 10 minutes to spare and found a spot on the front riser. GOLDEN!
If there is one word to describe Mrs. Clinton, it's "machine". It doesn't matter how she presents her agenda, in the end it feels like a machine. Just churning it out. I don't doubt she believes in what she is preaching, but I'm sure she hasn't been to the local Wal Mart in quite awhile.
It was nice meeting the former First Lady, even if it was through a camera lens from 100 feet away. She looked great. ABC news approached us afterwards to see if we got another exclusive interview. We didn't even think about asking due to what we believed would be heavy security.
We hustled back to Columbia, uplinked the package and began lighting the capitol. I'm sure a number of people were wondering what the heck this forty year old man was doing running extension cords across the capitol steps to light two palm trees on the front lawn. I think a couple of network boys thought I was nuts as well.
Much like the candidates, Tim's voice is all but gone. A mixture of flu like symptoms and stress from the daily grind of voicing multiple stories. Scratchy as it was he muscled through the ins and outs. We wrapped at 1op, got a late bite at the local IHOP and called it a night. Hard to believe it , but in the last two weeks I've been on the road with the next President of the United States.
This is why I got into the business. Every day is different.
MB
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday 1/23/08 First Lady Michelle Obama?
Tim and I have rolled onto USC's campus around 4pm. Michelle Obama is scheduled to address a group of students and supports around 5 in the Russell House Building. It's a nice setup, good size room, they've provided an audio feed, but where are the lights? You can't hold a press conference with ambient house lights. So I truck back down to the satellite truck for a light kit. After lighting the room I start shooting b-roll for our package. The one thing you learn early in this business is the mark your spot on the media riser. I did. So imagine my surprise when I went back into the room to discover an attractive young woman standing in my spot. As I began to set up my tripod, she said "you aren't really going to set up right in front of my are you?" She quickly informed me she was with MTV and I needed to move. Maybe if I hadn't been in the business for 16 plus years I would have been intimidated. I wasn't. She called me an "A" hole. Of course it's this A hole who set up the lights that allowed her to capture images on the cheap camera MTV provided her. She would later use this A hole's lights to interview people. So MTV hated us tonight, but ABC News loved us.
Tim and I got an exclusive interview with Mrs. Obama. Apparently ABC has been attempting to get her for months. A case of right place at the right time. I think setting up the lights helped as well. Once the network realized what we had and what they didn't, the bartering began. Of course decisions to share material are made at much higher levels. Like most industries this is a very small business. You never know when you are going to need a tape, battery or dub of an interview. So we've got an IOU from ABC and KMA for MTV.
AH aka MB
Tim and I got an exclusive interview with Mrs. Obama. Apparently ABC has been attempting to get her for months. A case of right place at the right time. I think setting up the lights helped as well. Once the network realized what we had and what they didn't, the bartering began. Of course decisions to share material are made at much higher levels. Like most industries this is a very small business. You never know when you are going to need a tape, battery or dub of an interview. So we've got an IOU from ABC and KMA for MTV.
AH aka MB
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tuesday Evening 1/22 Ushering in the Crowd
Who could resist seeing Chris Tucker (Rush Hour 1/2/3), Kerry Washington (Fantastic Four) and Usher. We couldn't, so we loaded up the satellite truck and headed 3 hours west to Orangeburg SC. Home of the South Carolina State Bulldogs. The line started forming at 4:30pm for an 8pm event. Little did they know it wouldn't kick off til almost 9. Everyone was excited to see Obama, but underneath we all knew Usher was the big draw. The crowd's reaction was much like the old films you've seen when Elvis or the Beatles took the stage. If Obama is smart, he'd name Usher is VP nominee. The stars were on stage for no more than 5 minutes then they were gone. Obama would speak for about 30 minutes. He's clearly exhausted. He attempted to recite parts of MLK's dream speak, got lost but quickly recovered. The unknown question of the night is will this star packed performance translate into votes. As students filed in, organizers asked the kids to fill out commitment sheets to show up on election day and to make sure their friends did as well. They were less than enthusiastic to do so. Usher can sell tickets, I'm not sure he can sell votes.
mb
mb
Tuesday 1/22/08 The Morning After
It's the day after the debate and the buzz amongst Edwards supports is "he won the debate". We're in Conway SC, small thriving town west of Myrtle Beach. We're inside an old peanut warehouse. Not too many peanuts being shelled here anymore. Mostly this place serves wedding parties and such. Today there are about 150 die hard Edwards supporters and a couple of fence sitters. We actually found one disenfranchised republican. The highlight of Edwards' speech comes early when he tells the crowd he was the "grown up in the democratic debate".
Edwards would speak for about 45 minutes. We got word yesterday we would be granted a "coveted" one on one interview with John after the mass media briefing. We quickly realized this wasn't going to happen when we followed Edwards to his bus and the doors closed in our face. John, you just lost my vote.
mb
Edwards would speak for about 45 minutes. We got word yesterday we would be granted a "coveted" one on one interview with John after the mass media briefing. We quickly realized this wasn't going to happen when we followed Edwards to his bus and the doors closed in our face. John, you just lost my vote.
mb
Monday, January 21, 2008
Saturday 1/19/08
Saturday 1/19/08
I've always said I'd rather work hard for 8 hours than have an easy 2 hour day. This was one of those easy unfullfilling days. It's primary day in Columbia SC and it's raining. The only thing worse than being wet is being cold and wet. We were supposed to get a mixture of sleet and snow. Neither materialized. Just rain. We hit a polling place around two, knocked out a couple of interviews with voters and uplinked our report. Our assignment tonight was GOP HQ. This was the worst place to be on election night. No one goes to GOP HQ except the media and the GOP Chair. In a word, BORING. McCain was in Charleston...Romney and R.Paul were in Nevada, Huckabee and Thompson were in Columbia and Hugh Cort went home to Alabama. Ten hours, 8 live shots and a package later we're looking forward to having Sunday off.
I've always said I'd rather work hard for 8 hours than have an easy 2 hour day. This was one of those easy unfullfilling days. It's primary day in Columbia SC and it's raining. The only thing worse than being wet is being cold and wet. We were supposed to get a mixture of sleet and snow. Neither materialized. Just rain. We hit a polling place around two, knocked out a couple of interviews with voters and uplinked our report. Our assignment tonight was GOP HQ. This was the worst place to be on election night. No one goes to GOP HQ except the media and the GOP Chair. In a word, BORING. McCain was in Charleston...Romney and R.Paul were in Nevada, Huckabee and Thompson were in Columbia and Hugh Cort went home to Alabama. Ten hours, 8 live shots and a package later we're looking forward to having Sunday off.
Sunday 1/13/08 Daddy where ya goin'?
My 6 year old daughter and I are settling in for bed with a best of three round of Uno. News 14 Carolina is on in the background. Gotta get the "bus stop" temperature for tomorrow morning. Jordan overhears a promo about our coverage in South Carolina to which she responds... there are two Carolinas? Okay, we're sending back the Wii and pulling out the atlas.
Yes darlin' there are two Carolinas and daddy is headin' south for the next two weeks to see who has what it takes to become the next president. Tim Boyum will be in front of the lens and I'll be behind it. Twelve hour days, a lot of fast food and two debates. Should be fun. "UNO'. exclaims Jordan. She wins the final round to take the series (obviously). Gotta instill that winning spirit just in case she plans to run for President some day.
MB
Monday 1/14/08 We're Off!
Hit the road at 7am with Pawley's Island, SC loaded in the GPS. 401 south out of Fuquay to 421 through Dunn then I-95 south to the second Carolina. John Edwards is speaking with a group of locals about the environment. He wouldn't want to know the satellite truck I'm driving, a Ford E-350 Superduty with a Triton V-10 engine, gets just 10 miles per gallon.
The rally goes off without a hitch. Mostly seniors who are sold on Edwards. Small press entourage. Not surprising with most of the attention on Michigan and Nevada. Things will pick up tomorrow with McCain and Huckabee rolling into SC.
It's always interesting to see the young people involved with the campaigns. The guy helping me with an audio feed could be the next assistant press secretary for the President. I'm not sure I was that passionate in my twenties. I'm a Generation Xer. I was interested in making money and living the good life, which doesn't explain my career path but that's another blog.
We dined in Mount Pleasant. The Water's Edge. A dozen raw oysters to start with bar-b-que salmon for the main course. I'll have to keep eating egg mcmuffins for breakfast if I expect the company to pick up the dinner check.
It's the night shift for Tuesday. Huckabee is hosting a watch party in Lexington for the Michigan results. Not on the coastline, but I'm sure the seafood is just as good.
MB
Tuesday Night 1/15/08 B-B-Q Huckabee Style
Nothing worse than showing up to a local event and the national media has already taken over. There was a small riser set up for the media at Hudson's Steakhouse in Lexington SC. Mike Huckabee was to speak at 8pm. We rolled in at 4pm to find the boys at CBS News, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC had staked claim to the entire riser. Squeezing in was going to take the diplomacy of a Presidential candidate. This is where networking comes in. I worked with the photog from CNN back in Charlotte in the mid 90s. He knew the photog from Fox news and before I knew it, I was center stage. I love those national guys.
The place was packed by 7pm, Huckabee rolled in around 8. What impressed me most tonight didn't come from the podium, but from the crowd. We met the Ashcraft family from Lexington SC. Jeff (husband and dad) actually lived in Arkansas and was a member of Huckabee's church. When they heard Mike was going to be in town, Becky (wife and mom) finished work and headed straight for Hudsons. She quickly laid claim to a table for four. Jeff arrived an hour later with their two girls ages 5 and 3. They would wait almost 3 hours to see Mike. It was important for them to be there. For their girls to witness what they hope is history in the making. To get politically motivated and involved at an early age. They are blue collar Americana. Working hard to make ends meet, raising their girls in a christian based home and
doing whatever they can to put a man in the White House who will keep their middle class dreams alive. I've taken my youngest to the polls to vote, but that's the extent of our political activism. I admire people like the Ashcrafts. They are the backbone of this country and have the most to gain or lose in this election.
Wednesday 1/16/08 McCain in Spartanburg
This would be an interesting day. We need to be in Spartanburg by 3pm for John McCain, but a winter storm mix had management wanting our satellite truck in Charlotte. First thing you learn in broadcasting, weather is king. We arrived in Spartanburg a little after two to a small crowd of confederate flag waving McCain haters. These folks hadn't forgotten 2000 when McCain called for the flag to be removed from the state capitol. McCain and his wife Cindy arrived via the "Straight Talk Express" oblivious to the boos.
Once again the photog gods were on my side. A prime spot on the riser. This is a theme I hope carries through the next two weeks.
Senator Lindsey Graham got the crowd fired up.... Mrs. McCain mesmerized the crowd with her beauty and elegance, then John....well, was John. Let's just say public speaking isn't his strong point. He had a couple of nice one liners. He was happy to hear SC was suing NC over water. He remarked on AZ suing CA over water. He said AZ was so short of water the trees chase the dogs. LOL
A hour later, McCain and troop were back on the ST Express headed to Greenville.... Tim and I were bound for the queen city. A relatively easy day topped off with a nice dinner at Nikko's sushi bar. With breakfast at McDs and no lunch, we stayed within per diem.
MB
Thursday 1/17/08 Clemson University via Fort Mill
The winter mix brought a dusting of the white stuff in Charlotte. That would be good news for us. No live shots along icy roads. We loaded up and headed to Fort Mill. Ron Paul was to address a group of about.....20. Is it just me or is there something to Ron Paul and Ross Perot looking alike, both coming from Texas, having the same initials and the same following? Someone should get a DNA swab. One thing about covering the underdogs, they are always willing to give you the coveted "one on one" interview. A
2 1/2 minute interview, 5 minutes of "b-roll" with Ron and the (small) crowd and we were off to Clemson for Huckabee, Norris and Flair.
Okay, we were really there to see Chuck Norris and Rick Flair. We'd already seen Huckabee in Lexington. To everyone's disappointment, Mr. Flair did not WOOOOO, but most men in the crowd did when Mrs. Norris took the stage. Walker Texas Ranger introduced her proudly proclaiming...."not bad huh". The crowd ate it up. They also ate up Huckabee jamming with a local band to "Sweet Home Alabama".
It would all end around 4pm, but Tim and I would still have another 8 hours of work to do. An hour and a half to write, edit and uplink our package... a 2 1/2 hour drive back to Columbia... set up lights outside the capitol and shoot ins and outs for the "Political Connections" show airing Friday night...and finally marrying the ins and outs to all the primary packages shot over the past two weeks by our entire news staff. No steak or seafood tonight.
Friday 1/18/08 the Ultimate Underdog
When you are in news, you are approached by all kinds. Case in point... Hugh Cort. It's 2:30 Friday morning and Tim and I were trying to check in to our hotel when we were approached by two men in long coats just in from New Jersey. The big, burly, crew cut guy in the black coat looked like he should speak with a Russian ascent. The portly, all smiles, wavy gray hair guy was Hugh Cort. A psychiatrist and self proclaimed terrorism expert from Alabama. He's dropped $35K just to get into the SC republican primary. That's a lot of palmetto trees. He's dead set on telling us about Osama's plan to detonate 10 nukes in NYC, WDC, CHI and 7 other major cities. We're dead set on getting to bed. A couple of handshakes later it's lights out. Little did we know Mr. Cort would take up most of our Friday.
When you're on the road, 6 hours of sleep is a lot. An early morning conference call informed us another winter storm would arrive over the weekend...we would serve as an uplink truck for our sister station "New York 1" out of NYC and we needed to feed in our 30 minute show ASAP. Breakfast would come late.
As we uplinked the show, Tim asked, what kind of guy spends $35 grand of his own money to join a race he has no chance of winning? Three phone calls later, we're in a local diner watching Hugh Cort court patrons for votes. The Lizard's Thicket is a quaint little place. Waitresses were buzzing with platters of eggs, bacon and grits and I was in the way with my 20 pound camera. I swear one of the old broads forearmed me. I'm not kiddin'.
Hugh is a God fearing, fiscal conservative republican who thinks Osama bin Ladin has 10 briefcase nukes in the US and positioned to strike. Most of the folks seem perplexed. I wasn't sure if it was his Armageddon theory or my camera getting up close and personal. That's what I love about working and living in the south. People here will put up with just about anything. An hour later we had got our ultimate underdog story and Hugh was on the road to Spartanburg to meet up with a Ron Paul rally. With Mr. Cort and his campaign manager (the guy in the long black coat) the crowd grew to 22.
MB
My 6 year old daughter and I are settling in for bed with a best of three round of Uno. News 14 Carolina is on in the background. Gotta get the "bus stop" temperature for tomorrow morning. Jordan overhears a promo about our coverage in South Carolina to which she responds... there are two Carolinas? Okay, we're sending back the Wii and pulling out the atlas.
Yes darlin' there are two Carolinas and daddy is headin' south for the next two weeks to see who has what it takes to become the next president. Tim Boyum will be in front of the lens and I'll be behind it. Twelve hour days, a lot of fast food and two debates. Should be fun. "UNO'. exclaims Jordan. She wins the final round to take the series (obviously). Gotta instill that winning spirit just in case she plans to run for President some day.
MB
Monday 1/14/08 We're Off!
Hit the road at 7am with Pawley's Island, SC loaded in the GPS. 401 south out of Fuquay to 421 through Dunn then I-95 south to the second Carolina. John Edwards is speaking with a group of locals about the environment. He wouldn't want to know the satellite truck I'm driving, a Ford E-350 Superduty with a Triton V-10 engine, gets just 10 miles per gallon.
The rally goes off without a hitch. Mostly seniors who are sold on Edwards. Small press entourage. Not surprising with most of the attention on Michigan and Nevada. Things will pick up tomorrow with McCain and Huckabee rolling into SC.
It's always interesting to see the young people involved with the campaigns. The guy helping me with an audio feed could be the next assistant press secretary for the President. I'm not sure I was that passionate in my twenties. I'm a Generation Xer. I was interested in making money and living the good life, which doesn't explain my career path but that's another blog.
We dined in Mount Pleasant. The Water's Edge. A dozen raw oysters to start with bar-b-que salmon for the main course. I'll have to keep eating egg mcmuffins for breakfast if I expect the company to pick up the dinner check.
It's the night shift for Tuesday. Huckabee is hosting a watch party in Lexington for the Michigan results. Not on the coastline, but I'm sure the seafood is just as good.
MB
Tuesday Night 1/15/08 B-B-Q Huckabee Style
Nothing worse than showing up to a local event and the national media has already taken over. There was a small riser set up for the media at Hudson's Steakhouse in Lexington SC. Mike Huckabee was to speak at 8pm. We rolled in at 4pm to find the boys at CBS News, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC had staked claim to the entire riser. Squeezing in was going to take the diplomacy of a Presidential candidate. This is where networking comes in. I worked with the photog from CNN back in Charlotte in the mid 90s. He knew the photog from Fox news and before I knew it, I was center stage. I love those national guys.
The place was packed by 7pm, Huckabee rolled in around 8. What impressed me most tonight didn't come from the podium, but from the crowd. We met the Ashcraft family from Lexington SC. Jeff (husband and dad) actually lived in Arkansas and was a member of Huckabee's church. When they heard Mike was going to be in town, Becky (wife and mom) finished work and headed straight for Hudsons. She quickly laid claim to a table for four. Jeff arrived an hour later with their two girls ages 5 and 3. They would wait almost 3 hours to see Mike. It was important for them to be there. For their girls to witness what they hope is history in the making. To get politically motivated and involved at an early age. They are blue collar Americana. Working hard to make ends meet, raising their girls in a christian based home and
doing whatever they can to put a man in the White House who will keep their middle class dreams alive. I've taken my youngest to the polls to vote, but that's the extent of our political activism. I admire people like the Ashcrafts. They are the backbone of this country and have the most to gain or lose in this election.
Wednesday 1/16/08 McCain in Spartanburg
This would be an interesting day. We need to be in Spartanburg by 3pm for John McCain, but a winter storm mix had management wanting our satellite truck in Charlotte. First thing you learn in broadcasting, weather is king. We arrived in Spartanburg a little after two to a small crowd of confederate flag waving McCain haters. These folks hadn't forgotten 2000 when McCain called for the flag to be removed from the state capitol. McCain and his wife Cindy arrived via the "Straight Talk Express" oblivious to the boos.
Once again the photog gods were on my side. A prime spot on the riser. This is a theme I hope carries through the next two weeks.
Senator Lindsey Graham got the crowd fired up.... Mrs. McCain mesmerized the crowd with her beauty and elegance, then John....well, was John. Let's just say public speaking isn't his strong point. He had a couple of nice one liners. He was happy to hear SC was suing NC over water. He remarked on AZ suing CA over water. He said AZ was so short of water the trees chase the dogs. LOL
A hour later, McCain and troop were back on the ST Express headed to Greenville.... Tim and I were bound for the queen city. A relatively easy day topped off with a nice dinner at Nikko's sushi bar. With breakfast at McDs and no lunch, we stayed within per diem.
MB
Thursday 1/17/08 Clemson University via Fort Mill
The winter mix brought a dusting of the white stuff in Charlotte. That would be good news for us. No live shots along icy roads. We loaded up and headed to Fort Mill. Ron Paul was to address a group of about.....20. Is it just me or is there something to Ron Paul and Ross Perot looking alike, both coming from Texas, having the same initials and the same following? Someone should get a DNA swab. One thing about covering the underdogs, they are always willing to give you the coveted "one on one" interview. A
2 1/2 minute interview, 5 minutes of "b-roll" with Ron and the (small) crowd and we were off to Clemson for Huckabee, Norris and Flair.
Okay, we were really there to see Chuck Norris and Rick Flair. We'd already seen Huckabee in Lexington. To everyone's disappointment, Mr. Flair did not WOOOOO, but most men in the crowd did when Mrs. Norris took the stage. Walker Texas Ranger introduced her proudly proclaiming...."not bad huh". The crowd ate it up. They also ate up Huckabee jamming with a local band to "Sweet Home Alabama".
It would all end around 4pm, but Tim and I would still have another 8 hours of work to do. An hour and a half to write, edit and uplink our package... a 2 1/2 hour drive back to Columbia... set up lights outside the capitol and shoot ins and outs for the "Political Connections" show airing Friday night...and finally marrying the ins and outs to all the primary packages shot over the past two weeks by our entire news staff. No steak or seafood tonight.
Friday 1/18/08 the Ultimate Underdog
When you are in news, you are approached by all kinds. Case in point... Hugh Cort. It's 2:30 Friday morning and Tim and I were trying to check in to our hotel when we were approached by two men in long coats just in from New Jersey. The big, burly, crew cut guy in the black coat looked like he should speak with a Russian ascent. The portly, all smiles, wavy gray hair guy was Hugh Cort. A psychiatrist and self proclaimed terrorism expert from Alabama. He's dropped $35K just to get into the SC republican primary. That's a lot of palmetto trees. He's dead set on telling us about Osama's plan to detonate 10 nukes in NYC, WDC, CHI and 7 other major cities. We're dead set on getting to bed. A couple of handshakes later it's lights out. Little did we know Mr. Cort would take up most of our Friday.
When you're on the road, 6 hours of sleep is a lot. An early morning conference call informed us another winter storm would arrive over the weekend...we would serve as an uplink truck for our sister station "New York 1" out of NYC and we needed to feed in our 30 minute show ASAP. Breakfast would come late.
As we uplinked the show, Tim asked, what kind of guy spends $35 grand of his own money to join a race he has no chance of winning? Three phone calls later, we're in a local diner watching Hugh Cort court patrons for votes. The Lizard's Thicket is a quaint little place. Waitresses were buzzing with platters of eggs, bacon and grits and I was in the way with my 20 pound camera. I swear one of the old broads forearmed me. I'm not kiddin'.
Hugh is a God fearing, fiscal conservative republican who thinks Osama bin Ladin has 10 briefcase nukes in the US and positioned to strike. Most of the folks seem perplexed. I wasn't sure if it was his Armageddon theory or my camera getting up close and personal. That's what I love about working and living in the south. People here will put up with just about anything. An hour later we had got our ultimate underdog story and Hugh was on the road to Spartanburg to meet up with a Ron Paul rally. With Mr. Cort and his campaign manager (the guy in the long black coat) the crowd grew to 22.
MB
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
On the road in South Carolina
From Chief Photographer Mark Barger, who is in South Carolina with Sr. Political Reporter Tim Boyum:
Monday, January 14, 2008:
Hit the road at 7am with Pawley's Island, SC loaded in the GPS. 401 south out of Fuquay to 421 through Dunn then I-95 south to the second Carolina. John Edwards is speaking with a group of locals about the environment. He wouldn't want to know the satellite truck I'm driving, a Ford E-350 Superduty with a Triton V-10 engine, gets just 10 miles per gallon.
The rally goes off without a hitch. Mostly seniors who are sold on Edwards. Small press entourage. Not surprising with most of the attention on Michigan and Nevada. Things will pick up tomorrow with McCain and Huckabee rolling into SC.
It's always interesting to see the young people involved with the campaigns. The guy helping me with an audio feed could be the next assistant press secretary for the President. I'm not sure I was that passionate in my twenties. I'm a Generation Xer. I was interested in making money and living the good life, which doesn't explain my career path but that's another blog.
We dined in Mount Pleasant. The Water's Edge. A dozen raw oysters to start with bar-b-que salmon for the main course. I'll have to keep eating egg mcmuffins for breakfast if I expect the company to pick up the dinner check.
It's the nightshift for Tuesday. Huckabee is hosting a watch party in Columbia for the Michigan results. Not on the coastline, but I'm sure the seafood is just as good.
Sunday Evening, January 13, 2008:
My 6 year old daughter and I are settling in for bed with a best of three round of Uno. News 14 Carolina is on in the background. Gotta get the "bus stop" temperature for tomorrow morning. Jordan overhears a promo about our coverage in South Carolina to which she responds... there are two Carolinas? Okay, we're sending back the Wii and pulling out the atlas.
Yes darlin' there are two Carolinas and daddy is headin' south for the next two weeks to see who has what it takes to become the next president. Tim Boyum will be in front of the lens and I'll be behind it. Twelve hour days, a lot of fast food and two debates. Should be fun. "UNO'. exclaims Jordan. She wins the final round to take the series (obviously). Gotta instill that winning spirit just in case she plans to run for President some day.
Monday, January 14, 2008:
Hit the road at 7am with Pawley's Island, SC loaded in the GPS. 401 south out of Fuquay to 421 through Dunn then I-95 south to the second Carolina. John Edwards is speaking with a group of locals about the environment. He wouldn't want to know the satellite truck I'm driving, a Ford E-350 Superduty with a Triton V-10 engine, gets just 10 miles per gallon.
The rally goes off without a hitch. Mostly seniors who are sold on Edwards. Small press entourage. Not surprising with most of the attention on Michigan and Nevada. Things will pick up tomorrow with McCain and Huckabee rolling into SC.
It's always interesting to see the young people involved with the campaigns. The guy helping me with an audio feed could be the next assistant press secretary for the President. I'm not sure I was that passionate in my twenties. I'm a Generation Xer. I was interested in making money and living the good life, which doesn't explain my career path but that's another blog.
We dined in Mount Pleasant. The Water's Edge. A dozen raw oysters to start with bar-b-que salmon for the main course. I'll have to keep eating egg mcmuffins for breakfast if I expect the company to pick up the dinner check.
It's the nightshift for Tuesday. Huckabee is hosting a watch party in Columbia for the Michigan results. Not on the coastline, but I'm sure the seafood is just as good.
Sunday Evening, January 13, 2008:
My 6 year old daughter and I are settling in for bed with a best of three round of Uno. News 14 Carolina is on in the background. Gotta get the "bus stop" temperature for tomorrow morning. Jordan overhears a promo about our coverage in South Carolina to which she responds... there are two Carolinas? Okay, we're sending back the Wii and pulling out the atlas.
Yes darlin' there are two Carolinas and daddy is headin' south for the next two weeks to see who has what it takes to become the next president. Tim Boyum will be in front of the lens and I'll be behind it. Twelve hour days, a lot of fast food and two debates. Should be fun. "UNO'. exclaims Jordan. She wins the final round to take the series (obviously). Gotta instill that winning spirit just in case she plans to run for President some day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)