One of my job perks is getting to cover high powered politicians when they come to town. There's always an air of excitement. That was certainly the case when Vice President Joe Biden visited Cincinnati this week to promote the federal stimulus package. For local bigwigs and some lucky members of the public who snagged a ticket, this is Cincinnati history in the making. Grab your camera! Maybe he will shake your hand or kiss your baby! But, for the media, coverage is an elaborate juggling act. If you drop the ball, you could be out of a story.As you can imagine, every move the Vice President makes is carefully choreographed. The security is incredibly tight. That means reporters and photographers are kept on a tight leash. The Vice President may have delivered a 30 minute speech, but for the media this was an 8 hour event.
First, we're required to arrive several hours in advance. Mr. Biden was scheduled to arrive shortly after 10am. We were in place by 4:30 in the morning. When you drive up, you're immediately flagged down by the press coordinator who told us precisely how to park our truck (at an angle for secret service line of sight). Where to sit, where to stand, and where to set-up...it's all laid out for us. We were able to do live coverage for our morning show, previewing the Vice President's visit, but by 7am we had to leave. Leave our gear, our bags, our trucks...everything so the secret service could perform a security sweep. Bomb-sniffing dogs climb in and around our vehicles. They canvass the entire site, and we're left standing in the street to watch. This is the time to grab a bite to eat or a potty break. Trust me, as a reporter in the field, any chance to find a bathroom is of vital importance!
Ninety minutes later, the sweep is over and we're issued media passes. Once again, we're allowed on site after going through a metal detector. But, our movement is limited. I must stay in the designated press area. And once I'm in, I can't leave. Even a trip back to our truck requires an escort.
Now -- we wait. Hours pass. We talk, we twiddle our fingers, and we wonder; how late will the Vice President arrive? It's a guarantee -- these events do not start on time. But, today we're lucky, Vice President Biden is up at the podium and delivering his speech by 11 o'clock. The stage is surrounded by secret service agents -- all in suits, wearing ear pieces with their roving eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. The Vice President elicits cheers and laughter -- he's in front of a friendly crowd and they love this experience. The press tries to absorb every word, scribbling furiously on notepads and checking our watches. He's finally here -- but he better hurry up, because we have noon live shots to get too!
For some reporters this is old hat. They've been in the business for thirty years and all the hoop-jumping is a nuisance. Others still absorb the excitement -- that's me. Here's how you can tell the difference. We whip out our camera phones to grab a picture -- proof that we were there!
As quickly as the VP swooped in and rallied the crowed, he's gone. The set is quickly cleared and the event is over. In another city, the press is likely setting up, sitting and waiting. After all, the Vice President is headed there next
