McCain's T.C. Election Day visit; Bill's View Behind the Scenes

Sen. John McCain visited Traverse City on primary election day: Jan 15, 2008, attracting at least 420 people, according to estimates by an impartial group: the staff of the Hagerty Center, where the GOTV (Get Out the Vote) event was held.

It was a great rally with a good turnout, considering it was held on a weekday morning at 8:30 a.m. and a lot of people had to be at work at that time.

I am proud to say I had a small hand in the success of the event, being the campaign’s local contact to help McCain’s advance people organize the visit.

It all began mid December with a phone call from GOP Michigan National Committeeman Chuck Yob. He asked me to start thinking of venues for a possible visit on Sunday, Jan. 13: the Park Place Dome, an airport hangar, or other places that could hold at least four hundred people.

The reason I was called to help was because I was asked early on (last September) if I would be the McCain 2008 Chairman for Grand Traverse County.

"What do I have to do?" was my response at the time, wondering if I would be swamped with work.

"Not much," was Chuck's response, “until he comes to Traverse City."

Well, beginning December 28th with another phone call, I was called to action. Chuck informed me that the date of the visit had been changed from Sunday to Tuesday, the actual day of the primary election. So from December 28 until election day untold hours were spent laying the groundwork to help the campaign staff set up, publicize and get people to the event.

It was important to have a great crowd turn out: national media would be there and broadcast video throughout the state and even the country. In fact a whole busload of media arrived.

My marching orders were: first, find and secure a terrific venue. Next: secure a high school band (or two) to play live music; contact Veterans’ organizations to bring out a contingent (or two) of honor guard; get some large groups to attend in case no one else showed up (high school kids were acceptable); make sure the media knew of and publicized the event; notify the local police so they knew the Senator would be in town; and compile a list of local VIPs that should be invited and email it to headquarters ASAP for approval.

Once those things were in place the Advanced Team from headquarters would handle all the minor details, such as: setting up the room with risers for the Senator and press; handling the logistics of transporting the Senator and his entourage (and press, and all their luggage) from the airport to the hotel etc.

To accomplish my small part in the event took phone calls to more than fifty different people (and multiple phone calls to many). My computer logged 126 related incoming emails (many in response to my fifty outgoing inquiries). And then there were many hours on site with the advance team.

Now that the visit has come and gone, and people have had time to mull their reaction, it seems that the event was generally considered a success, even though the Senator lost Michigan to Mitt Romney. McCain did win two districts: the First, which encompasses the Upper Peninsula and northern part of the lower peninsula, and the Sixth, which is southwest Michigan (Cong. Fred Upton’s district).

Comments reflected how the Senator came across as a genuine person, even though he had probably given versions of the same speech many times. He was in command of the issues and possessed the demeanor of a leader.

Following his remarks he took time to shake hands and mingle with the crowd.

When one elderly Veteran got off his chair (we provided chairs for the honor guards) and attempted to walk toward the Senator, McCain spotted him and promptly walked across the room to save the older man steps. And McCain made time to talk especially with him, leisurely, for a minute or two.

Evidence that it’s a small world with a variety of connections became apparent even before the Senator came to town. One of the high school principals had a son attending the Naval Academy with McCain’s son.

The military camaraderie became even more evident when one of the crowd control volunteers told us that he was a flight controller aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal in 1967, when there was an explosion and horrible fire aboard ship. He said that his voice over the radio was the last McCain heard before McCain had to bail out of his aircraft.

Prior to the event, both men asked for an opportunity to shake the Senator’s hand. And they got their wish.

One thing I forgot to mention. Shortly before the Senator's arrival I was given last minute directives that weren’t in the script. One was to quickly assemble all of the vets who had been seated in chairs and bring them to the back entrance…immediately.

I enlisted the help of one my the other volunteers and we ushered the veterans to the kitchen. We waited until the vehicle carrying the Senator entered the parking lot. Then we escorted the vets outside to line the entrance. Senator McCain took the time to shake each one’s hand and thank them for their service, and for coming out on such a cold day.

Such is the bond of those who have served faithfully in the U.S. military.