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My calves were killing me by the time Obama took the stage. After the hassles of the Pepsi Center I figured there was no way I’d get into to Mile High Stadium. But after a long shuttle bus ride (Ted Koppel was on my bus) and the usual security checks, my credentials got me right onto the field for one-hour visits (which I could renew without difficulty). I was excited! Even a political non-believer like me wanted to see the first time a black American accepted the presidential nomination. And more than that, I just wanted to see Obama do what he’s best at: deliver [...]

1 Comment | Tags: aol, barack obama, conventions, democratic convention, dnc, work

So when Bill Clinton spoke, I got it. A little. Despite his flaws, Bill Clinton gets me excited. I like his swagger and comfort while speaking, and his audacity to throw around a million statistics and still make it feel completely accessible. I believe, when listening to him, that he’s read every op-ed page in every newspaper and has Figured It Out. Intellectually, I have my doubts. But emotionally I just think “I would vote for this man today.”

Part of that was I watched his speech from the comparative comfort of the AOL workspace. Much of my grouchiness comes from having to be in the arena where each day the [...]

4 Comments | Tags: aol, conventions, democratic convention, dnc, work

No way Mo or I could get into to see Hillary’s speech last night. The fire marshall closed the doors to the arena about 20 minutes before she entered — “it’s cheek to jowl in there” said a security guard.  People crowded around the monitors in the hallways — definitely the most exciting and energized moment of the convention so far.

Except for me — since I have trouble wrapping my head how ANY of this convention (outside of Barack’s speech) is important in any way at all. Is there ever another time when so many reporters gather to cover an event whose ending (the nomination of the candidate) has [...]

10 Comments | Tags: aol, conventions, democratic convention, dnc, mo rocca, work

I walked into the Pepsi Center and heard Ted Kennedy’s speech by complete accident. I was going in, hoping to get members of the Delaware delegation say trivia facts to the camera, but then realized I couldn’t even get close to the floor. So I stood at the top of the arena and watched the place explode with affection for Ted. I’m not really into politics at all, but it’s hard to not get caught up in the emotion when you’re right in the middle of it.

I’m here with AOL News to film pieces with Mo. At least one a day — we’ll see what we get. In [...]

8 Comments | Tags: aol, conventions, democratic convention, dnc, mo rocca, work