So...this weekend brought the "Kerry-Edwards Presidential Campaign" to Racine Wisconsin.
And I got to be a small part of it...and it was quite cool.
It started with finding out last Week that Senator Edwards would be stopping in Milwaukee and Racine over the weekend doing some campaigning for their "2004 Presidential Election campaign".
See this web page for more info if interested: http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug04/253278.asp
With the "town hall meeting being held in Racine this morning, he ended up staying at the hotel where I work last night. His campaign staff had been there in advance since thursday, doing all the preplanning and I got to talk with one of his campaign staffers throughout the weekend which was an interesting experience to say the least.
Last night (Sunday) was the hectic day at work, with the U.S. Secret Service decending on the hotel making sure that all was in order for "Edward's arrival in the evening to the hotel. As soon as he got here, he decided to come down to my restaurant to eat dinner. As he arrived, I was locked into the "campaign staff headquarters Staff Suite" for 10 minutes, as I had been in the hallway trying to deliver some sandwiches for the campaign staff at the time. A soon as I was allowed to exit, I was told via radio that "the Senator" was down in my restaurant....so......as I am standing in the guest hallway with my GM, I turned tail and RAN back to my restaurant to greet him and make sure that all was in order.
He had an enjoyable dinner with a few people, I was on my server that was taking care of him like flies on shit and everything went terrific. On his way out, he shook my hand (along with a few of my staff's and said thank you for a very nice dinner and walked back to his suite.
The remainder of the evening was spent dealing with his staff's food requirements, the News press who was also staying at the hotel and the Secret Service. The other highlights of my evening were getting "pinned" by the Secret Service so I could move about the area where Edwards was and around 11:00 pm when I went down to the room where the Secret Service had their "command headquarters" to refresh the room...one of the Secret Service Guys thanked me for the great attention that was paid to them by my staff and the he gave me a "Secret Service Badge" (though it was a very minaturized version....it was still the coolest thing I have received in a while.)
I am now up early this morning as I have been invited to attend a "GoodBye" staff rally at the hotel before Edwards goes to do his "Town Hall Meeting" here in Racine. I guess we are to get our photo taken with him in front of the hotel. So its offf to shower and get ready to go into work on my day off yet once again.....hell..I may even ask for an autograph!!
This is the closest I have ever come to a "presidential campaign and it has been quite an interesting experience.
One question?? Do I have to vote for these guys now???
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