PR Geek Talk

Today, I accompanied a client to a luncheon at the CNN Grill, a bar and restaurant adjacent to the Pepsi Center where the Democrats are holding most of the convention this week. CNN has rented the facility for the duration of the convention and completely converted it for their use. The conversion, layout and how CNN is using this place is a fascinating story I will relate later. For now, I am going to focus on the interesting comments CNN staff and correspondents made.

CNN has invested more money and effort into covering politics in our country than any other news entity. So, when they offer an opinion about trends in how candidates and organizations communicate, this PR guy listens. The CNN folks are adamant this campaign season has seen more than large numbers of votes cast and increased interest by the public. How messages are packaged and delivered, and how news outlets like CNN report are changing as well.

I had a couple of conversations with CNN insiders following our visit. They are convinced that organizations who combine technology (Internet trends like blogging, YouTube, Facebook, etc.) with traditional tools (news releases, advertising, direct mail, etc.) are going to be effective. But, the organizations that are going to rise to the top of the heap are the ones that employ all of these by engaging the audience and giving them ownership in the process.

Whether you report the news, or are trying to make it; it is imperative you know your audience. They may demand information come to them quickly. They may want it in small bites, but they want to be able to look deeper as well. As CNN’s John King’s infamous election board proves, people want quick visuals, but they also want in-depth data. CNN has to give them both. Organizations that are selling products or advancing an issue have to do the same. The public wants clear concise messages, but deeper information must be readily accessible as well.

CNN is winning many of television’s rating wars these days - they must be on to something. But, what I walked away with was an excellent reminder lesson in effective communication. You can invest in technology, buy ads and churn out well written news releases, but if you do not know what your audience wants and deliver it to them in way that is usable, they may very well ignore you.

Hillary's Delegates

Word here in Denver is that while some of Hillary's delegates are saying publicly they're on the Obama bandwagon, privately they are still trying to spike its tires. That at least is what CNN correspondants John King and Dana Bash reported at a private luncheon today and will likely be reporting tonight on air.

Images from 16th Street, Near Pepsi Center

Near the Pepsi Center is an open air pedestrian mall that is a lively scene for those taking a break from listening to speeches.

Dominating the street are police, on bikes, on foot, on motorcycles, in patrol cars and on horses. Despite the heavy presence of security, the cops themselves seem to be going out of their way to look friendly and approachable. At least as friendly as you can when you're wearing full body armor, cannisters of tear gas and carrying an AK-47.

Perhaps to counter the policy, a group of young women stand on a street corner giving away free hugs. I wonder if this was Obama's idea?

Finally, images of Obama are everywhere...including in a bottle. I doubt the enthusiasm will be bottled up on Thursday night

Go, Governor Bolo Tie!

The Democrats found the electrical socket last night. After Monday’s well orchestrated, but restrained opening event, convention delegates and guests began to make a little noise. Organizers gave delegates a chance to whoop it up in small doses between some early dry speeches with a little dancing and music as the evening built toward Senator Hillary Clinton’s speech. Resplendent in a tangerine pantsuit, she brought the house down, but I am getting ahead of myself.

A parade of governors, former governors, and others spoke on topics economic and energy related, as delegates worked hard to keep in a festive mood. Organizers wisely chose Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer as the night’s final speaker before Clinton’s tangerine dream speech. One of the benefits of being the governor of Montana is that you are allowed to wear the hard to pull off men’s accessory, the bolo tie. The bolo tie is a long leather shoestring secured around your neck with one of your grandmother’s brooches. It is a fashion statement that says, “I spend a lot of time on the range with cattle. You have a problem with that?”

Governor Schweitzer gave the speech delegates had long awaited. He spoke to the audience as opposed to reciting policy. He lifted the mood by bouncing and dancing a little and waving his hands as he joked about the Republicans and engaged Democrats to work toward hard until November. He was the cheerleader the hall had lacked the previous day. Had a vendor been selling Schweitzer bolo ties on the convention floor, he would have sold at least 100, which is probably more than have been sold in this country in the last 25 years combined.

Organizers sensing the frenzy Schweitzer created immediately threw cold water on the moment by turning the lights off and letting the somber tones of the Clinton introduction video waft over the crowd as he exited stage left. President Bill Clinton had entered the hall a few moments into the Schweitzer speech and was sitting a little more than a hundred feet from me. He reveled in the moment as his wife recovered the festive move and brought the hall to its feet with calls for unity behind Barack Obama, self deprecating humor and a few well-placed jabs at Senator John McCain.

Tuesday evening was what modern conventions have become, a little policy, a little politics and a whole lot of showmanship.

The Voting

UPDATE: The Denver Post reports on this today also. I assumed this was biz as usual, but I was wrong.

I learned something from a delegate this morning that I didn't know.Each state delegation is housed in a hotel. For example, the Minnesota delegation is housed in my hotel (and yes, I've seen MN Senate candidate Al Franken). Each morning they meet.During tomorrow morning's meeting they actually vote on the nominee, and it's those votes that will get announced on the floor that night.

Michelle Obama and Two Conventions from the Rafters

This is my view of her last night from the nosebleed seats. Twenty years ago was the last time I attended a convention, and then too I sat near the rafters. It was the night George H.W. Bush gave his acceptance speech ("Read my lips...").

Here's a big difference between then and now. Then, on the culminating night of the convention, I was sitting next to empty seats. Last night, the first night, there wasn't a seat in the house.

In this photo Michelle Obama is a tiny blip on the stage...but it was clear from the reception she got inside the Pepsi Center that she was a big success with the delegates here.

Xcel Energy Center - Republican Convention

As promised, a look inside the GOP convention in Minneapolis.