Oregon Republican Party chair Vance Day is blogging from the Republican National Convention for KGW.com's "Talk of the Town" blog....

September 2, 2008

by Vance Day for KGW.com

You know you are living in a post September 11th world when the bus that comes to pick you up at your hotel to take you to the Republican National Convention has an armed police officer sitting next to the bus driver. There is so much security in Minneapolis and Saint Paul this week that it took us twice as long to get to the Xcel Energy Center for the National Convention yesterday as it should have. Not because of traffic, but because the police officer was directing the bus driver through a special secure route. A route that took twice as long, I am sure.

But alas, the bus pulled into Saint Paul, through another security perimeter, and to the Xcel Energy Center. It was almost overwhelming to finally be there. There were tents and permanent structures set up all around the Xcel Center for the media. Helicopters flying overhead. Police at every corner. After being poked, wanded, metal detected, and searched, we were finally inside. I was given the special opportunity to take a tour of the Xcel Center last week, but it was so very different being there when it is filled with people.

The Oregon delegation was shown to our position on the floor. Wow! Oregon has VIP seating this year. I spent some time on the floor talking with the media, meeting other delegates, and just enjoying the event. The Convention officially opened - and as promised, it was business only. Sure, there were cheers and everyone was happy to be there, but no fireworks. After a couple of hours of official business, completely out of the blue, the announcer said, "please welcome our First Lady, Laura Bush!" To say the crowd was shocked would be an understatement. Everyone rose to their feet and clapped for what seemed like forever. The First Lady introduced a special video message from the Governors in the Gulf Coast, then came back on stage with Cindy McCain. Again, the shocked crowd stood and clapped for minutes. The two ladies brought a level of excitement and surprise to the evening no one expected. The feeling in the room is indescribable, and only makes me that more excited for the rest of the week.

We are back on schedule tonight with a full agenda of what is sure to be an evening filled with moving speakers - so it can only get better!

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