Waiting for Obama/Biden. And waiting. And waiting.

Add comment August 23rd, 2008

SPRINGFIELD — It’s 1:14 p.m. as I start this entry. I’m sitting in the shade behind some massive risers for the international TV corps here at the Old State Capitol, where the world is waiting for Barack Obama and his running-mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware.

I’m listening to some Japanese reporters right now, and before that the BBC, which is staffing this event heavily, with TV and radio crews.

I’m actually in front of the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices at the corner of 6th and Adams, where Abe Lincoln practiced law. It was convenient for him — the federal courthouse was downstairs of his second floor offices. From out his window, Lincoln could see the county courthouse, the better to sign up clients who’d come to town to go to court.

In front of the historic law offices, which you can and should tour, stand about 14 satellite TV trucks — there could be more assembled since I counted at 9 a.m., It’s an odd juxtaposition of mid 19th century architecture and 21st centruy technology. But I think Lincoln would have approved.

Media were required to be here before 9 a.m. We had to put our equipment inside the work area, then we had to leave. We couldn’t get back in until 11 am.

As I look up, I see Illinois state police in combat uniforms on top of every building, including the Old State Capitol itself. Things sure have tightened up since the primary campaign.

We’re told the “event” is to begin at 2 p.m. Yeah, right. And it’s getting very, very hot. Not to worry though: The Obamanians are selling water for $2. With ice!

Secret Service sent to Joe Biden’s home

Add comment August 22nd, 2008

It’s 11:52 p.m. Friday night and still no word from the Obama camp, or should I say Camp Obama, about the vice-presidential nominee. However, ABC’s Jake Tapper reports that the Secret Service has been sent to Joe Biden’s home in Delaware.

That should be the tip-off. I said in a recent blog that i thought Biden should be the veep nominee; he’s a Senate veteran, first elected in 1972, he has experience on the foreign relations committee and the judiciary committee, and he’s run for president twice,. most recently this year.

Now, he did say back in the Democratic primary days that Obama lacks experience to do the job, a sound byte that will be repeated by the mcCain campaign, I’m sure. He also said last year that Obama is “clean and articulate,” which raised some eyebrows.

Yes, Biden will be fun to cover. We’ll know for sure in the morning, when Obama is set to text message his choice to hisĀ  supporters cel phones, and send e-mails to their computers. High tech hits the campaign trail.

The speech in Springfield will be the veep nominee’s official roll=out. From there, the pair will go on a tour of battleground states on their way to Denver. WNTA talk show host Bruce Butler, who broadcasts from Eau Claire, Wis., said on his show Friday that Obama is supposed to be coming to that northwestern Wisconsin city Sunday afternoon. And Wisconsin definitely will be a battleground state.