Howard Dean : From the road...Finally, some sleep!

He has got to be one of the hardest working candidates in the race...

From the Road: Finally Some Sleep!

There's no time for sleep on the campaign trail! We've been up and going for 32 hours, but thankfully it's time for some rest!

At 8:30am CST on Tuesday we started our marathon. The Gov gave a speech to the Iowa Foreign Relations Council, had two meetings with Iowa activists and stopped by the VFW in Ottumwa to meet with veterans.

At 4:30pm CST we hopped on a plane and flew from Burlington, Iowa to Portland, Oregon. It was a four hour flight - and there were 6 of us packed onto the small plane (we've got press traveling with us) - but it was worth the trip! The people in Portland organized two fundraising receptions for the Gov. Over 800 people attended. The most exciting part of the visit for me was meeting Teri Mills, our aspiring National Nurse. It's fun meeting the people who blog, and although I was meeting Teri for the first time in person, I felt like I already knew her. I must thank Teri and Shava for the wonderful food baskets. They were not only delicious, but healthy! (Teri can tell you that despite the fact we eat a lot of cookies, the Gov and I haven't gained much weight).

At 9:45pm CST we got back on the plane and made the four hour flight back east - this time to Washington, DC. It was a horrible flight and try as you might it is impossible to sleep on one of those small planes. But, we did it and. . .

At 5:00am EST on Wednesday we arrived at Dulles airport in Washington, DC. We got a couple of hours sleep (if that's what you want to call it) and then went to the greatest event of the last 32 hours (next to meeting Nurse Teri that is!) - the press conference where the AFSCME and SEIU endorsements were announced. I can't tell you how exciting it was to be there. The room was packed with union members and you couldn't help by feel their enthusiasm for the Gov. The energy in the room was amazing especially when the Gov entered the room wearing purple, green and black - the colors of AFSCME, SEIU and the Painters - the crowd roared - and I mean roared!

At 4:00pm EST time we got back on that plane (if we never see the plane again it will be fine) and headed to Burlington, VT. We landed at 5:45pm and finally headed home.

The last 32 hours were great, but now I'm looking forward to getting some sleep tonight (I'm too old to do all nighters!).

We're on the road at 8:00am tomorrow to spend the day in New Hamsphire. Then we get back on the dreaded plane to go to Iowa.

Posted by Kate O'Connor at 09:17 PM


www.blogforamerica.com

Somehow this doesn't look like a big time campaign.

And he's imploding.

He's clearly the front runner but 6 people? Reminds me of a Wellstone trip.

more than the FAA allows?

Maybe the campaign doesn't require a big staff yer so this is ok. Eventually they will and this shows that the close scrutiny by the press hasn't happened yet.

Dean has more press following him on a regular basis than any of the other candidates.

why should the campaign waste money chartering jumbo jets so the press can come along for the ride? they can provide for their own transportation.

LOL.

Saw alot of action this summer...

--excerpt--

The Grassroots Express carries a rotating cast of roughly 30 members of the media at any given time. There are reporters from major newspapers, Eleanor Clift from Newsweek, and a guy from Time, a slew of television people, and a woman making a documentary for HBO about the presidential candidates. A guy from Rolling Stone hops on board part way through the tour, as does one from the New Yorker. There are three alt-weekly guys, including myself, on the trip.

While this exalted position in the center of a media firestorm is a relatively new experience for Howard Dean, it is one he has taken to with gusto. On Sunday morning he strolls to the back of the plane, where the media people are encamped--campaign staffers sit in front, campaign guests and politicos occupy the middle seats--to informally chat with reporters. Though he can still be prickly with the press, especially when he feels he is being challenged, he seems looser than he did back in May when I interviewed him in New Hampshire.

http://www.thestranger.com/2003-08-28/feature2.html

http://www.deanforamerica.com/sleeplesssummer

It was a small charter jet.

Usually he has a very large crowd of reporters following him.

Mr Cheapskate doesn't pay to fly sycophants with him everywhere he goes.

:evilgrin:

you're so busted. Grounded?

one time when I was in high school she did find my stash and confronted me about it… she said she was gonna flush it down the toilet to which I replied that I'd just have to go buy more… she called my dad (who's a CPA/financial advisor) and he agreed (with me) that flushing it would just be a waste of money so she gave it back.

:)

You have a cool dad.

sinking, like your candidate is!

...he glides! And I love the way he raises democrats from the dead :P

He is practical, he rents a canoe.

Far better than trying to walk on water, pretending the water doesn't exist, or claiming there is no way to traverse the water so there is no reason to try.

though it used to veer right quite a bit

... he stops paddling, turns around and waves at all the other canoes WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY back behind him.

Since his rear view is blocked by all of the asskissers?

(Hey, I gotta million of them...and now you're supposed to reply, "But Howard's got LOTS of millions" You're welcome)