Behind the scenes at today's debate. Spin room and some spin.

[madfloridian]

The Stranger's site has a super blog post up.

The Spin (Room) in Des Moines

Then Axelrod added—”frankly,” he said—that at this early date, the debates are being watched mostly by “a lot of political junkies and a lot of score-keepers.”

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean was also in the spin room, and echoed Axelrod’s perception of who’s watching the debates.

..."Dean told me that at this early date, “the penetration of these debates is among political junkies and political journalists.”

He wouldn’t bite on the question of whether Obama was right to start fending off non-DNC-sanctioned debate requests. But there was some cheering of Obama’s move from apparently road-weary political journalists.

From the WCF Courier in Cedar Falls.

Debates about far more than persuading voters

The article's tone is a little snide, but it gives info I did not know about. Glad to see Dean getting a great reception there.

DES MOINES, Iowa - Campaign debates are always about far more than a bunch of candidates arguing over issues and trying to sway voters.

Democratic national Committee Chairman Howard Dean looked a bit perplexed when he was introduced to the crowd at Drake University Sunday morning, setting the stage for the latest debate between the party's presidential rivals. As Dean marched onto the stage before the cameras started rolling, the auditorium erupted in applause as the couple of thousand activists leaped to their feet and roared approval.

"Was that scripted into this deal?" asked Dean, as a perplexed look came over his face.

..."After Sunday's debate, Dean simply shrugged about the apparent affection activists now have for him.

"The problem for me is that I told you so is a lousy campaign slogan," said Dean, saying he was heading to Iowa State Fair to get a pork chop on a stick.

And more from the Spin Room from First Read.

Spin Room

Some (admittedly trivial) style notes: First Read got pretty close to Edwards while he was outside. He was tanned and comfortable in leather black loafers and dark suit. His tie was blue with light blue octopi on it. Incidentally, Dean was wearing a similar tie, but with whales on his. Children could be seen through the spin room as well. Dodd carried his daughter in, and Biden brought his made-for-TV smile and had his two granddaughters in tow -- one comfortable in her purple crocs sandles, the other with chic gold open-toe sandals.

Neat post debate picture.



Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.,
acknowledges supporters after a democratic presidential debate Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007, in Des Moines, Iowa as Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., talks with Democratic National CommitteecChairman Howard Dean, left. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2007/08/19/ap/headlines/d8r46gmo0.txt

[madfloridian]

1. More.

"The Democratic presidential front-runners also seemed to agree on one other thing: The schedule of candidate forums and debates has become overwhelming.

David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager, said Saturday, "We simply cannot continue to hopscotch from forum to forum and run a campaign true to the bottom-up movement for change that propelled Barack into this race."

He said Obama was committed to five remaining debates sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee, two Iowa debates in December and one in Florida on Sept. 9. But after that, Plouffe said, the campaign will limit the number of debates Obama attends.

Other campaigns have grumbled privately about the same thing and some will probably follow suit. The forums are virtually the only way for lesser-known candidates such as former Sen. Mike Gravel and Rep. Dennis Kucinich to get attention."

http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2007/08/19/ap/headlines/d8r46gmo0.txt

I can't say that I blame any of them. The pace has been long and hard. It started too soon.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

2. Dean said "The problem for me is that I told you so is a lousy campaign slogan"

:rofl:

I love Dr. Dean. I worked for him in the primaries, he's a great chairman, but wouldn't it be great if he were the WH spokesperson in 2008? I know, the job is beneath him, but he's such a straight shooter.

[madfloridian]

6. Sometimes I want to stick my head out the window and yell..

to all my holier than thou neighbors who had signs in their yards supporting the war and supporting Bush.....I TOLD YOU SO.

I think it is great he said it.

We did tell them to stay out of Iraq, and they did not listen.

[Debi]

3. Hey mad...got to speak briefly and give him a quick hug!!

:loveya: the reaction to him was amazing (I was waiting for him to ask if the crowd's reaction was going to be taken out of his time :rofl:) It was great to see him again (although I would have loved to see him behind one of those podiums!!)

[madfloridian]

4. That is great you got to be there.

Didn't you find the reporter's use of the word "perplexed" rather perplexing? I could think of a lot of other words, but perplexed seems to give an image of a frown or something.

I am glad he got that kind of response there. And what is a pork chop on a steak? :hi:

[Debi]

7. Gov . Dean is addicted to Iowa pork chops

but his favorite is Pork Chop on a Stick from the Iowa State Fair

[madfloridian]

8. Oh, they really are pork chops on a stick.

I thought they were rolled up or something. That looks yummy.

:hi:

[Colobo]

9. Gosh, I need to move to Iowa! Pork chops on a stick!

[Colobo]

5. Obama and Dean together- Men that truly want to change America.

[madfloridian]

10. Many of the candidates avoided the "spin" room and met elsewhere

with supporters.

This blog has pictures of them with their groups and where they met. I think that was a good way to do things.

http://ipol-2008.blogspot.com:80/2007/08/spin.html

They are large pictures, but good ones. Paragraphs beside them. Neat page.

Here is the one I used and resized, but the others are great.

Back in the spin room, Howard Dean held court. I asked Governor Dean how he felt this debate compared to the August 5th GOP debate. He replied that he hadn't seen the GOP face-off, but expressed certainty that we're better than them (damn skippy, Doctor!).

[madfloridian]

11. I think Dean's welcome there is something to celebrate.

I really do. I did find one paragraph from VT mentioning it. I think it is good recognition to someone who just kept plugging after such viciousness. That makes two paragraphs total.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=6505654&nav=4QcRAk9A

Associated Press - August 20, 2007 7:45 AM ET

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -"What a difference four years makes. Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean was greeted by thunderous applause yesterday when he walked onto the stage yesterday at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, for a debate."

Thanks for keeping on, Governor Dean.