It was back on the campaign trail Tuesday morning. This time, it was Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's visit to Scranton. This was the scene inside the Riverfront Sports Complex at 4:30 AM. Crews were still putting the finishing touches on the stage and the bleachers.
Those who design the set up of these things have to balance the needs of the media with the desire to keep the people attending the rally happy. I'm not faulting the people who built the arrangement. They were only following orders from the campaign. There was no balance here. The sight lines were great for TV. Unfortunately, most of the people who attended this thing had a bad view and there wasn't enough seating. It could have and should have been angled differently to give the audience more move around and a better view of what was happening. I heard more than a few grumbles, and the upset people had a legitimate beef.
As always, a van was our home away from home for the morning. This is one of the newer units in the fleet. It's one of my favorites because it's roomy.
There's a story here, and I hope we get a chance to do it before election day. Campaign stops, regardless of party, have become flea markets, with vendors selling campaign tee shirts, bumper stickers, and buttons. The stuff isn't cheap, and it sells fast. I'd like to know where the money goes and if these people have permits. I remember the days when candidates would give you buttons for free so you could advertise their cause. The free days are over. I also wonder if the vendors believe in the candidates, or if they're just out to make a buck.
20 days 'til the election.
