Behind the scenes: AFL-CIO Presidential Forum
Posted: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 5:23 PM by Hardball
Tammy Haddad
The load-in (as our tech folks call it) to create the AFL-CIO presidential forum television coverage began at 12:01 am CT on Monday after the Chicago Bears cleared Soldier Field. The MSNBC election department had all team leaders on site to turn around the first outdoor candidate face-off for 2008. Led by NBC News Specials chief Phil Alongi and MSNBC's senior director, Marc Greenstein, looking beyond the lightning (yellow and pink) and put their plan into action to create an intimate feel with 15,000 AFL-CIO members in the end zone.
The NBC Weather Plus team (now officially a member of the election road crew!) kept us up to date as we created two locations to accommodate any weather scenario. But the driving force is editorial, and, with Keith Olbermann at the helm, it had to be fast, furious and focused. So, Alongi and Chuck Todd huddled with Keith and his team. In the morning, the candidates walked through, noting the giant jumbo screens across the stadium. (Even if you are used to being on TV, we noted candidates flinching when catching their own images.)
Former Senator John Edwards was first in for his "look see" as well as his interview with Matt Lauer for "Super Tuesday" coverage. He strode across the field and hopped on the stage like an experienced gladiator. You could feel the energy and expectation that this was going to be the Olympics of primary debates (hey, Beijing is one year away!) And candidates had to use all their training and finely honed debate skills to win the audience on location and at home. Roland Woerner led the pre-screening of audience questions the night before with Hardballer Brooke Brower. We were all moved by the retired steelworker who almost stole the show.
But some of the most intriguing moments you will never experience, like the final moments off-stage when the contenders are required to line up like you did for the milk line in elementary school. Last night it felt more like the entrance to The Palm in D.C. as the candidates schmoozed each other in a circle -- a difference from the Reagan Library debate in May, where the GOP candidates stood perfectly still and stayed in line behind the formidable Joanne Drake (Reagan Chief of Staff). Then the breathless crowd standing and yelling for their man or woman as they walked and waved (cue the Rocky theme). Some used the Miss America wave, which means never cover your own face and act like its another day at work (Obama and Clinton).
Your humble blogger was horrified to realize that we were trapped on the corner of the stage at the top of the steps where the candidates had to pass. "Countdown" superstars Eelin Reily and Margaret the intern and I delicately dove stage right as they gently pirouette for a final wave as they hit the stage. (We promptly shook their hands and wished them well as if it was all planned.)
Former Hardball topper now NBC News biggie Phil Griffin noted the coliseum feel as the candidates moved into podium position. During the commercial breaks the candidates would gather in small groups and have to hoof it to get back to position in time.
Post-debate, Chris Matthews had a killer line-up and it was a mesmerizing site to see Howard Wolfson, David Axelrod and David Bonior getting ready to appear for the first time together on TV. People say politics is a blood sport but on this night everybody on stage and on the field had their commitment and hearts on their sleeves. Go to the Hardball web site and see debate highlights and other blogs about this riveting political event.
