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More on Varejao
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Opponent outlook: Kent State
Browns Bulletin:
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Wedge challenges relievers
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
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Men's Basketball Scheduling update
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All Da King's Men:
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Blog of Mass Destruction:
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Akron Law Café:
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East basketball update
See Jane Style:
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Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
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Ohio Travels with Betty:
Margy inquires-when is a Taste of Hudson?
Sound Check:
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HRLite House:
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Akron Gamer:
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Passing vehicles honk at candidates' backers
By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008
CLEVELAND: If you watched the presidential debate last night on television — here's what you didn't see:
Supporters of each candidate holding signs and shouting back and forth across a busy Cleveland intersection in the snow.
More than 500 members of the media from across the country and from the foreign press scrambling to get out the story.
And a room packed with spin doctors arguing their candidate was the winner.
Though the cameras focused on the debate stage, a lot happened behind the scenes of the historic event at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center.
At 21st and Prospect streets, supporters of Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, the two Democratic presidential candidates, clasped campaign signs while being pelted by snow.
''Hill-A-Ry!'' a group on one side of the street shouted.
''O-Ba-Ma!'' a group on the other side answered.
Some of these supporters traveled from far away just to stand behind metal barricades outside of the Wolstein Center and voice their support.
''I believe he (Obama) has the best message and hope for America,'' said David McKinney, of Battle Creek, Mich., who yelled until his voice gave out.
Courtney Eaton, a Hillary supporter, jumped up and down to stay warm. She had been parked on the street corner since 11 a.m. and her ''Meet Me In Ohio'' T-shirt was soaking wet.
''I really, really believe in her,'' said Eaton, who lives in Mayfield. ''You've got to really believe in someone to stand out here.''
The supporters, some with hand
made signs with messages like ''Hillary for Cleveland,'' were met with frequent honks from passing vehicles. A passenger in a minivan didn't get a warm reception when he waved a sign for Sen. John McCain, the leading Republican presidential candidate.
Avi Greenbaum of Akron, who sells political merchandise, used the opportunity to peddle debate buttons featuring a picture that morphed from Obama to Clinton and back.
''To me, it's exciting,'' said Greenbaum, who didn't want to say whom he is supporting.
Happy to volunteer
Cleveland State University student DaLisa Delk wasn't lucky enough to score a debate ticket.
She did win a lottery to volunteer at the event.
Delk, 19, of Brunswick, was among about 300 university faculty and students who served as volunteers.
Her job, a difficult one, was to keep the media happy. She and several other volunteers checked in media representatives, offered directions, made copies and answered questions.
And she did this with a smile.
''I think I got the better end of the deal,'' said the music major, who wore a Cleveland State debate T-shirt. ''Being behind the scenes, I feel like I'm part of something.''
Delk, who declined to say which candidate she's supporting, helped out for about six hours Monday and planned to work until after midnight Tuesday. She was dazzled by a few of the media types she met, who included journalists from France, the United Kingdom and Canada.
''It's mind-boggling — the whole experience,'' she said. ''I'm trying to stay grounded.''
Network clout
Inside the ''spin room'' in the basement of the center that — on normal days — is a practice gym, each of the networks had a flashy setup for live shots.
At 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., Chris Matthews' Hard Ball show was taped.
Cleveland State students competed in a lottery for the chance to be shown on the set, lined up wearing university T-shirts.
Lori Barry, who took part in the 5 p.m. taping, was excited to be involved.
''I get to be part of this history-making event,'' said Barry, 21, of Brunswick.
The public relations major said she hadn't decided whom she will vote for and planned to listen closely to the debate.
''I want to see who fights dirty,'' she said.
After the debate, representatives from each campaign and Cleveland State professors flocked to the spin room to dissect what was said and give their views on who won.
Hot ticket in town
Tickets to the debate were hard to come by, with less than 200 given to the public through a lottery.
The rest of the audience of about 1,400 were Cleveland State students and staff, or guests of the candidates, the Democratic Party and NBC.
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, who has endorsed Clinton; Congressman Tim Ryan, D-Niles; and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown were among those to get in.
Ryan, who supported Sen. Chris Dodd before he dropped out of the race, has not yet picked a favorite between Obama and Clinton.
Brown also hasn't endorsed.
Ryan and Brown will be so-called superdelegates to the Democratic convention and Plusquellic, as a big-city mayor, could be chosen by the party.
Plusquellic, who got his debate ticket from the party, thinks many Clinton supporters have been unfairly labeled as ''racist'' for not backing Obama.
He said his decision was based on the candidates' experience, qualifications and knowledge of the issues.
''I think she is the better prepared,'' he said.
Brown, who said he plans to ''let the voters decide'' the nominee, is happy to see the candidates come to Ohio and talk about issues like jobs and trade.
''That's great for the state,'' he said.
Brown said the winner will be the candidate with the ''big ideas,'' and he or she will take these ''up through November'' and create ''change in the country.''
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached
at 330-996-3705 or
swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
CLEVELAND: If you watched the presidential debate last night on television — here's what you didn't see:
Get the full article here.
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