7PM in South Medford.
Email MedfordGOP@gmail.com for more details.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Willington says GOP convention was a success
Palin is ready for media spotlight
By Jeremy P. Jacobs
Rob Willington, the executive director of the Massachusetts GOP, said Monday that the Republican National Convention successfully launched the next stage of nominee John McCain's campaign and that vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is ready to face an onslaught of media interviews.
Willington told PolitickerMA.com that the convention was "extremely successful" and that "people got a good look at who John McCain is and who Sarah Palin is."
In particular, McCain's picking Palin as his running mate has excited the Republican Party, Willington said. "The returns on the ratings of her speech were phenomenal for a vice presidential candidate," he said.
According to Nielsen's ratings, 37.2 million viewers watched the Alaska governor's speech last Wednesday, 1.1 million less than tuned in for Democratic nominee Barack Obama (Ill.) the week before.
"The McCain campaign is coming out of the convention in extremely good shape," Willington said. "They are going to continue to campaign hard to bring their maverick message to the voters."
The polls back up Willington's assertions. Several polls, including the Gallup Daily tracking poll, show that McCain has received a bump following the conventions. Monday's Gallup poll showed McCain leading Obama 48 percent to 45 percent.
Willington also said that Palin is ready for the numerous media interviews she will likely begin facing this week. Since being named McCain's running mate, Palin has been sequestered from the press, appearing only at scripted campaign stops. But the McCain campaign, who has asserted that the media has treated Palin unfairly, said that ABC's Charlie Gibson will be the first to interview the vice presidential candidate later this week.
"I think she will certainly be able to handle her own," Willington said.
Willington said he has been watching the debates from Palin's 2006 gubernatorial race recently and he has been "extremely impressed."
"She was extremely quick and smart on her feet," Willington said. "I think she'll do very well in the media."
By Jeremy P. Jacobs
Rob Willington, the executive director of the Massachusetts GOP, said Monday that the Republican National Convention successfully launched the next stage of nominee John McCain's campaign and that vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is ready to face an onslaught of media interviews.
Willington told PolitickerMA.com that the convention was "extremely successful" and that "people got a good look at who John McCain is and who Sarah Palin is."
In particular, McCain's picking Palin as his running mate has excited the Republican Party, Willington said. "The returns on the ratings of her speech were phenomenal for a vice presidential candidate," he said.
According to Nielsen's ratings, 37.2 million viewers watched the Alaska governor's speech last Wednesday, 1.1 million less than tuned in for Democratic nominee Barack Obama (Ill.) the week before.
"The McCain campaign is coming out of the convention in extremely good shape," Willington said. "They are going to continue to campaign hard to bring their maverick message to the voters."
The polls back up Willington's assertions. Several polls, including the Gallup Daily tracking poll, show that McCain has received a bump following the conventions. Monday's Gallup poll showed McCain leading Obama 48 percent to 45 percent.
Willington also said that Palin is ready for the numerous media interviews she will likely begin facing this week. Since being named McCain's running mate, Palin has been sequestered from the press, appearing only at scripted campaign stops. But the McCain campaign, who has asserted that the media has treated Palin unfairly, said that ABC's Charlie Gibson will be the first to interview the vice presidential candidate later this week.
"I think she will certainly be able to handle her own," Willington said.
Willington said he has been watching the debates from Palin's 2006 gubernatorial race recently and he has been "extremely impressed."
"She was extremely quick and smart on her feet," Willington said. "I think she'll do very well in the media."
Saturday, September 6, 2008
RNC "View from the Floor" - Day 4
From Mark Crowley...
Sorry for the delayed posting. Friday was a VERY long travel day, with flight delays and missed connections.
Well, last day of the convention and what a way to wrap things up. Admittedly, after Sarah Palin's night on Wednesday, it was going to be a tough act to follow. Thursday featured the redesigned stage, to create a more intimate "Town Hall" feel.
Because seating is at a premium on the final night, delegates were encouraged to arrive early. Still, my usual seat had to be ceded to of all people, Governor Mitt Romney! I wasn't about to tell him to get out of my seat, so I settled for right behind him. It was quite an honor to be seated right among him and many other dignitaries from our delegation. Everyone was jockeying for the prime spot, assuming that when the cameras focused on Romney, they'd be seen as well.
I'll be honest, the energy on the floor wasn't as intense this night. The speaker line up included Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Senator Lindsay Graham, and Governor Tom Ridge - none of which were particularly inspiring (Glad none of them got picked as VP, as they all were considered...).
Still, when McCain took the stage, the place went out of control with excitement. Our "handlers" in the aisles tried to cut our applause to a minimum, but with minimal luck. It was tough to catch some of his better lines, especially at the very end, because the crowd noise was so deafening. I'll have to catch it on tape later.
The balloon drop is, of course, the big finale and what a finale it was. With the blizzard of confetti, you couldn't see a thing! Many of us took to standing on our chairs to dance the night away (and if you watched CNN, you very likely saw me getting my groove on...)
This past week has been one of the most exciting in my life. I've heard it said that everyone should attend a convention at some point in their life. Now I know why. The crowd, the energy, the history. All of it makes for an unforgettable experience. I'll prepare a photo gallery of all my shots from the convention and put them online.
58 days until victory! And then, the next big party is in January!
...Mark
Sorry for the delayed posting. Friday was a VERY long travel day, with flight delays and missed connections.
Well, last day of the convention and what a way to wrap things up. Admittedly, after Sarah Palin's night on Wednesday, it was going to be a tough act to follow. Thursday featured the redesigned stage, to create a more intimate "Town Hall" feel.
Because seating is at a premium on the final night, delegates were encouraged to arrive early. Still, my usual seat had to be ceded to of all people, Governor Mitt Romney! I wasn't about to tell him to get out of my seat, so I settled for right behind him. It was quite an honor to be seated right among him and many other dignitaries from our delegation. Everyone was jockeying for the prime spot, assuming that when the cameras focused on Romney, they'd be seen as well.
I'll be honest, the energy on the floor wasn't as intense this night. The speaker line up included Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Senator Lindsay Graham, and Governor Tom Ridge - none of which were particularly inspiring (Glad none of them got picked as VP, as they all were considered...).
Still, when McCain took the stage, the place went out of control with excitement. Our "handlers" in the aisles tried to cut our applause to a minimum, but with minimal luck. It was tough to catch some of his better lines, especially at the very end, because the crowd noise was so deafening. I'll have to catch it on tape later.
The balloon drop is, of course, the big finale and what a finale it was. With the blizzard of confetti, you couldn't see a thing! Many of us took to standing on our chairs to dance the night away (and if you watched CNN, you very likely saw me getting my groove on...)
This past week has been one of the most exciting in my life. I've heard it said that everyone should attend a convention at some point in their life. Now I know why. The crowd, the energy, the history. All of it makes for an unforgettable experience. I'll prepare a photo gallery of all my shots from the convention and put them online.
58 days until victory! And then, the next big party is in January!
...Mark
GOP pulls Palin to Massachusetts
The Docket
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s news blog
September 5th, 2008 by noahs
Newly nominated Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is scheduled to make a campaign stop in Massachusetts next month, Lawyers Weekly has learned.
Details about Palin’s planned visit to the Bay State are sketchy, but a Republican Party activist says that she will appear at a mid-October fundraiser in “the Boston area.”
Because Palin’s running mate, GOP presidential candidate John S. McCain, has agreed to accept public financing for his campaign, donations at the upcoming event with Palin will go to a fund established by the Republican National Committee under the name Republican Victory Fund.
Although Massachusetts is widely viewed as being in the Democrat-dominated blue-state column, local Republicans are holding out hope that their ticket could carry this state in the Nov. 4 election. One diehard GOP supporter notes that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama trailed his primary opponent, Hillary Clinton, in the Super Tuesday primary contest in Massachusetts back in early February.
Also, for the first time in a long time, Republicans have leased space in the commonwealth – at 145 Tremont St. in downtown Boston – as campaign headquarters for their national ticket. Reportedly, the last time the GOP had a Bay State presence during a presidential contest was in 1988 when then-Gov. Michael S. Dukakis did battle with and lost to George H.W. Bush, father of the incumbent president.
“Nothing is being conceded,” says this source.
– Barbara Rabinovitz
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s news blog
September 5th, 2008 by noahs
Newly nominated Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is scheduled to make a campaign stop in Massachusetts next month, Lawyers Weekly has learned.
Details about Palin’s planned visit to the Bay State are sketchy, but a Republican Party activist says that she will appear at a mid-October fundraiser in “the Boston area.”
Because Palin’s running mate, GOP presidential candidate John S. McCain, has agreed to accept public financing for his campaign, donations at the upcoming event with Palin will go to a fund established by the Republican National Committee under the name Republican Victory Fund.
Although Massachusetts is widely viewed as being in the Democrat-dominated blue-state column, local Republicans are holding out hope that their ticket could carry this state in the Nov. 4 election. One diehard GOP supporter notes that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama trailed his primary opponent, Hillary Clinton, in the Super Tuesday primary contest in Massachusetts back in early February.
Also, for the first time in a long time, Republicans have leased space in the commonwealth – at 145 Tremont St. in downtown Boston – as campaign headquarters for their national ticket. Reportedly, the last time the GOP had a Bay State presence during a presidential contest was in 1988 when then-Gov. Michael S. Dukakis did battle with and lost to George H.W. Bush, father of the incumbent president.
“Nothing is being conceded,” says this source.
– Barbara Rabinovitz
Thursday, September 4, 2008
RNC "View from the Floor" - Day 3
From Mark Crowley...
Wow! Things just keep getting better! The day started with the Mass delegation hearing from a fellow POW of John McCain. No matter how many times you hear about McCain's experience, the story is moving and a true insight to his character.
The afternoon was a volunteer effort organized by the RNC. Target donated supplies and each delegation spent an hour assembling care packages for those on the Gulf Coast impacted by Hurricane Gustav. Although each group was scheduled for an hour at a time, most stayed longer to get even more done. It felt great to help others in need.
Wednesday night was the big show, and what a line up. In anticipation of Governor Romney's speech and the Roll Call of the States, several us wore our Red Sox jersey's. Our sign was then topped off with a Sox cap.
Governor Romney kicked things off and just continues to impress the party. We had people from other states keep coming up to the Mass delegation to say how much they liked Mitt and still had great expectations for him in the years to come. After his speech, he came down to the Mass section for a meet & greet. I got an autograph and picture with him!
Gov. Mike Huckabee came after Romney and charmed the crowd as he did audiences throughout the primary. The line about Palin getting more votes as Mayor of Wasilla that Joe Biden did in the primaries - priceless!
Next up was Mayor Rudy Giuliani who almost stole the show and almost made it hard to have Palin live up to him. The applause was so extensive, our "handlers" in the aisles had to keep telling us to cut the applause short, or Palin wouldn't lose her prime time speaking slot. But, it was hard to bottle up the excitement.
Finally, Sarah Palin was incredible. I, like others on the floor were cautiously optimistic at first about her, but after her speech, there's no doubt she's the real deal. The energy on the floor was off the charts. We were jammed in like sardines, but no one cared. And when McCain himself came out for a cameo at the end, the place shook!!
If this campaign this year is about change, then the McCain-Palin ticket is where it's at. You could see the media types wandering the floor just trying to get delegates to express some doubt, using incredibly leading questions. But, it was clear that they were grasping at straws for a sound bite to use against her.
So, tonight is the big show. Come back tomorrow for more!
...Mark
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
RNC "View from the Floor" Day 2
That's more like it! After Monday's respectfully abbreviated session, Tuesday kicked things off as the RNC got back into the swing of things. The day started off great with Gov. Mitt Romney speaking to the Mass. delegation at our morning breakfast meeting. He is such an amazing individual. The energy in the room when he arrived was incredible. Living up to the "Country First" theme, he came out strongly for John McCain and Sarah Palin. Still, I still could see in his eyes that he wanted to be the man making the acceptance speech on Thursday.
The evening's session at the Xcel Center was incredible. It's fascinating to see the activity on the floor, which you don't get from watching TV. Admittedly, during the less prominent speakers, folks are mulling around the center. It's a great opportunity to not only meet with others in the Mass delegation, but to talk with the other states to get their views. I met with a delegate from California, who was covering making a documentary of the campaign. Also, as you can probably guess from the TV coverage, the Texas delegation is full of energy - in their matching shirts and cowboy hats. Certainly, the highlight is seeing how others dress up for the occasion. My favorite was Honest Abe, representing Georgia of all places.
Before getting to the main event speakers of the evening, there was a tribute to Ronald Reagan, which really fired up the crowd.
We again had the privilege of hearing from First Lady Laura Bush, who introduced President Bush, who unfortunately spoke via satellite, from Washington. While the President may not have high ratings from the nation as a whole, you couldn't tell that from the convention.
Next up was former Senator Fred Thompson, who was exactly the speaker we needed to set the tone for the convention. His testament to John McCain was moving, but he clearly outlined what was at stake in this election. He had many folks on the floor wondering where was this sort of speech from him during the primaries. Things may have turned out much differently.
The final speaker was Joe Lieberman. I'll be honest, there were mixed feelings about having him there. For sure, he's been a strong supporter of McCain, and it was a powerful image to have Joe speak to undecided Dems and Independents, but for the strong conservatives the crowd (like myself), it highlighted the reason why we sometimes worry about McCain's "maverick" persona.
That said, Wednesday is the night many of us are really looking forward to. Governor Romney will be speaking. We're looking forward to having him sit with the delegation for the roll call of the states. More importantly, we're looking forward to getting our first up close look at Sarah Palin. There's a lot of buzz on the floor about her, most with very high expectations. We all hope she can deliver.
Lastly, be sure to keep a close eye out for the Mass delegation tonight. Red Sox Nation will be properly represented!
...Mark
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
RNC "View from the Floor" - Day 1
From Mark Crowley...
The first day of convention activity was an abbreviated but eventful one. The day started out with a morning meeting of the Mass. delegation, where party leaders Ron Kaufman and Peter Torkildsen spoke. We also had a chance to hear from Jeff Beatty.
For certain, the talk of the room was the selection of Sarah Palin as VP. Opinions ran from "guardedly optimistic" to "very excited". Like myself, many folks were disappointed that Mitt Romney wasn't selected. The delegation was very pleased, however, to later hear that Romney would be the featured speaker at our Tuesday morning delegation meeting. This should be a great chance to meet with the Governor is a small gathering.
The Mass. delegation will be the center of attention with the convention of each day's convention events, owing to the naming of Jean Inman as the Secretary of the Convention. It was nice to see some recognition of our state.
After the morning session, the delegation was bussed to Xcel Center. What an incredible sight it is! Naturally, security was very tight and very visible. On the outside, it was funny to see the massive media presence as well - a small army unto itself. The "CNN Grill" was staring down the "Fox News Command Center" across the street from each other.
On the inside, I was surprised to find the convention space not as large as I would have thought. The RNC is a much smaller gathering it seems than the Democrats, and you can feel that. As you'll see on TV, the stage is pretty much at floor level, with just a large projection screen behind the podium. Even from the delegation sections further from the podium, it still seems like a very intimate space.
Also surprising was that the Mass. delegation got a fairly decent seating location. As the Bluest of the Blue states, we all assumed we'd be in the nosebleed seats or even have an obstructed view. We're to the right of the stage (Mass to the "right"?... go figure.) We're at the corner, at at a cross roads of some high traffic aisles, so we get to see lots of media scurrying around.
Speaking of media, they are everywhere. It's like the Oscars for them and seeing the media is like celebrity sighting. Every outlet has their elaborate sets, but it's fun to see all these talking heads when they are off-camera. Some seem very down to earth (Brit Hume), others the prima donnas you'd expect (Wolf Blitzer). One funny thing the cameras will probably not show you - the MSNBC booth is next to the Al-Jazeera booth. Insert your own joke here... ;-)
As expected, the media swarms the floor looking for delegates to interview. I spoke with the Utne Reader, Canadian Television, and Harvard. Talk about diversity. Also, wearing a funny hat is an automatic ticket to an interview.
Not surprisingly, the questions from every reporter were about Sarah Palin, both her selection as VP and her daughter's pregnancy. To the former, the reactions from the delegation at large were very similar to that from Massachusetts, i.e., most expected and wanted Mitt Romney. Regarding the Palin daughter pregnancy, the media was attacking hard on this. You can see that they were looking for those signs of discontent from delegates. From my "view from the floor", I didn't hear any grumbling. Most agreed it was a family issue, a point with even Obama made.
Romney was seen in the convention center, quickly moving between media outlets for interviews. I followed him to the Fox booth, and even confirmed with my wife that she could see me in the background. I'm famous now, as the guy over Mitt's shoulder! (well, famous in my family at least...)
Overall, the mood on the floor was muted, in light of Hurricane Gustav. The concern for our fellow citizens on the Gulf Coast was visible everywhere. A "Hurricane Response Center" was in place for delegates to check the Internet for updates, as well as make donations to the Red Cross. In fact, right at the opening of the formal proceedings, every delegate was able to make a donation to the Red Cross via their cell phones. By the end of the day, over $1 million was raised by the delegates. It was a very proud moment to see Americans helping other Americans.
The session lasted only 2 hours, with the highlight certainly being Laura Bush and Cindy McCain. Their appearance really energized the floor. Both women gave wonderful speeches, reinforcing the theme of helping those on the Gulf Coast.
Thankfully, it seems that Hurricane Gustav was not as damaging as it could have been. Still, we are mindful of those who have been displaced and face the difficult task of cleaning up.
Tuesday is shaping up to be a more full schedule with Fred Thompson and Joe Lieberman to speak.
Come back again for my next update!
...Mark
The first day of convention activity was an abbreviated but eventful one. The day started out with a morning meeting of the Mass. delegation, where party leaders Ron Kaufman and Peter Torkildsen spoke. We also had a chance to hear from Jeff Beatty.
For certain, the talk of the room was the selection of Sarah Palin as VP. Opinions ran from "guardedly optimistic" to "very excited". Like myself, many folks were disappointed that Mitt Romney wasn't selected. The delegation was very pleased, however, to later hear that Romney would be the featured speaker at our Tuesday morning delegation meeting. This should be a great chance to meet with the Governor is a small gathering.
The Mass. delegation will be the center of attention with the convention of each day's convention events, owing to the naming of Jean Inman as the Secretary of the Convention. It was nice to see some recognition of our state.
After the morning session, the delegation was bussed to Xcel Center. What an incredible sight it is! Naturally, security was very tight and very visible. On the outside, it was funny to see the massive media presence as well - a small army unto itself. The "CNN Grill" was staring down the "Fox News Command Center" across the street from each other.
On the inside, I was surprised to find the convention space not as large as I would have thought. The RNC is a much smaller gathering it seems than the Democrats, and you can feel that. As you'll see on TV, the stage is pretty much at floor level, with just a large projection screen behind the podium. Even from the delegation sections further from the podium, it still seems like a very intimate space.
Also surprising was that the Mass. delegation got a fairly decent seating location. As the Bluest of the Blue states, we all assumed we'd be in the nosebleed seats or even have an obstructed view. We're to the right of the stage (Mass to the "right"?... go figure.) We're at the corner, at at a cross roads of some high traffic aisles, so we get to see lots of media scurrying around.
Speaking of media, they are everywhere. It's like the Oscars for them and seeing the media is like celebrity sighting. Every outlet has their elaborate sets, but it's fun to see all these talking heads when they are off-camera. Some seem very down to earth (Brit Hume), others the prima donnas you'd expect (Wolf Blitzer). One funny thing the cameras will probably not show you - the MSNBC booth is next to the Al-Jazeera booth. Insert your own joke here... ;-)
As expected, the media swarms the floor looking for delegates to interview. I spoke with the Utne Reader, Canadian Television, and Harvard. Talk about diversity. Also, wearing a funny hat is an automatic ticket to an interview.
Not surprisingly, the questions from every reporter were about Sarah Palin, both her selection as VP and her daughter's pregnancy. To the former, the reactions from the delegation at large were very similar to that from Massachusetts, i.e., most expected and wanted Mitt Romney. Regarding the Palin daughter pregnancy, the media was attacking hard on this. You can see that they were looking for those signs of discontent from delegates. From my "view from the floor", I didn't hear any grumbling. Most agreed it was a family issue, a point with even Obama made.
Romney was seen in the convention center, quickly moving between media outlets for interviews. I followed him to the Fox booth, and even confirmed with my wife that she could see me in the background. I'm famous now, as the guy over Mitt's shoulder! (well, famous in my family at least...)
Overall, the mood on the floor was muted, in light of Hurricane Gustav. The concern for our fellow citizens on the Gulf Coast was visible everywhere. A "Hurricane Response Center" was in place for delegates to check the Internet for updates, as well as make donations to the Red Cross. In fact, right at the opening of the formal proceedings, every delegate was able to make a donation to the Red Cross via their cell phones. By the end of the day, over $1 million was raised by the delegates. It was a very proud moment to see Americans helping other Americans.
The session lasted only 2 hours, with the highlight certainly being Laura Bush and Cindy McCain. Their appearance really energized the floor. Both women gave wonderful speeches, reinforcing the theme of helping those on the Gulf Coast.
Thankfully, it seems that Hurricane Gustav was not as damaging as it could have been. Still, we are mindful of those who have been displaced and face the difficult task of cleaning up.
Tuesday is shaping up to be a more full schedule with Fred Thompson and Joe Lieberman to speak.
Come back again for my next update!
...Mark
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