More Scenes, Sounds From The RNC

KCRA 3 photographer Tom O’Hair put together this audio slideshow featuring images from the convention.

The audio is a portion of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s speech.

Watch the slideshow here:

Pumped Up

It’s one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s favorite phrases.  And last night at the X-Cel Center, it was exactly what Sarah Palin did to the GOP faithful..pump them up.  Palin was funny…joking about pit bulls and soccer moms.  She was personable.  And she hit on conservative themes important to John McCain’s candidacy…lower taxes, smaller government, energy independence, national security.

It was a good set up for John McCain’s appearance tonight to formally accept his party’s nomination…a prize he first sought eight long years ago.  In fact, his cameo on the stage last night provided little doubt that McCain is pleased with his choice, despite the controversies that cropped up this week about Palin’s political and personal background.

Gold River congressman Dan Lungren told me this morning that, historically, a v.p. makes little difference in a fall campaign.  The last time it mattered was back in 1960, when LBJ helped Kennedy carry Texas, meaning a razor-thin win over Richard Nixon.   But Lungren says this year may be a repeat of that, with Palin aiming to win over women and conservatives.     He says McCain will work out to reach out to working families tonight, in a town hall style address at the X-Cel Center.  In fact, even last night work crews were busy dismantling the formal podium for a more informal address tonight.

Take A Look At XCel Center

Wonder what it’s like inside of XCel Energy Center?

Check out this video tour of the spot where the California delegation sits:

Playing Hooky

Santa Maria Senator Abel Maldonado is playing hooky today from the State Capitol, but says he doesn’t think his constituents should mind that he’s at the Republican Convention in St. Paul.

“I hope not.” Maldonado told me this morning on the floor of XCel Center. “I think that my constituents are proud and honored to have their Santa Maria boy here. Now I’m back here representing them in Minneapolis.  I think it’s an honor for the district. “

Maldonado, who is slated to give a six minute speech today on the convention floor in favor of John McCain’s economic plan, said he informed Senate President pro Tem Don Perata that he was skipping floor session today in order to travel to Minnesota.

“I asked Senator Perata, will there be a budget vote today?  He said no, enjoy the day.”

Also in St. Paul today, skipping the budget war in Sacramento, are Assembly Members Van Tran of Orange County and Bonnie Garcia of Palm Springs.   Senator Dick Ackerman of Fullerton is also here instead of attending floor sessions.

Simon Says

Former gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon is emerging as a refreshingly candid voice at this convention in St. Paul. Simon, who lost the governor’s race to Gray Davis in 2002, is the son of former Treasury Secretary William Simon and a successful investment banker. I asked him today if he had any concerns about whether VP nominee Sarah Palin had been thoroughly vetted.

“We’re now in the discovery phase,” Simon said. “I assume she’s been vetted, since McCain has such a good team.”

It is a valid question, and not one many delegates here are willing to voice publicly. Simon tells me he believes Palin’s troubles are not legitimate political fodder, since they are family-related. He also says he’s toying with the idea of making another run for governor in 2010.

Tonight on the convention floor at X-Cel Center, Rosario Marin said she supports Palin “because she’s a woman I can relate to…a career woman who’s dealing with a family too.” Marin has a child with Down’s Syndrome, as does Palin.

California Delegates Go For A Boat Ride

Rain didn’t stop California Republican delegates from going on a boat ride Tuesday at Lake Minnetonka.

And we are happy to report that nobody has complained of sea sickness.

Bad Weather Won’t Stop Republican Convention

Hurricane Gustav didn’t stop the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., and a little rain won’t stop California delegates from dining Tuesday at Lake Minnetonka before the convention heats up.

Mobilizing in Minnetonka

There we were, at the private Lafayette Club on Lake Minnetonka. And along with the rest of the California delegation, we were dodging raindrops and mud puddles, as a late summer rainstorm soaked the Twin Cities. This, after a night in which we worked so late, that the parking garage outside the XCel Center was locked up, forcing photographer Tom O’Hair to call the police to release our rental car.

But back to Minnetonka, where the Morongo Band of Indians put on a lavish spread for delegates. That was indoors, of course. Outside, convention guest Richard Loa of West Sacramento was among those who opted for a lake cruise, despite the whitecaps.

“It really cut down on the lines,” Loa said.

After a subdued beginning to this convention, these delegates are ready to ramp it up. They offered a spirited defense of V.P. nominee Sarah Palin, in the wake of revelations about a legal battle in Alaska and the pregnancy of her 17-year-old daughter.

“It happens to a lot of families,” said Bobbi Lungren, wife of Gold River congressman Dan Lungren. She’s been talking up Palin’s potential for months now. She and her husband both tell me they admire the way Palin’s family has handled the issue, including the decision to keep the baby.

“That sort of blows the myth that woman candidates have to have a pro-choice stance”, Congressman Lungren said as he prepared to board the delegation bus.

That view was echoed by Karen England, who is with the Sacramento-based Capitol Resource Institute.

“Kids make poor choices. I’m glad they’ve made the decision to demonstrate that life is valuable,” she said.

As for any new revelations that may crop up, alternate delegate Ann Meyer of Redding expressed a common view here, saying she is no more surprised about Palin’s background than she would be with any other politician.

The Indian brunch and the boat trips over, it was back to the XCel Center for Day Two of convention business.

Rainy in the Twin Cities

Scenes From The Convention

Check out this slideshow created by KCRA 3 photographer Tom O’Hair, who is with me here in St. Paul.

The images are from the first day of the convention.

The audio is first lady Laura Bush, who spoke about Hurricane Gustav.

Local delegate

Jesse Petrilla, a 25-year-old delegate from Auburn, talked with us Monday during his trip to the Republican National Convention.

Watch the interview here: