The delegation started off today to news that the convention was set to resume as planned. With the threat from Hurricane Gustav diminishing, sprits were high and it appeared that the convention could become more festive. We were informed that we would hear from several high-profile speakers including First Lady Laura Bush, Sen. Joe Lieberman and former Sen. Fred Thompson.

The delegation was also treated to a morning speech from Iowa senator and 1st Congressional District candidate David Hartsuch. Senator Hartsuch has been a strong leader in the Iowa Senate for the conservative movement and our delegation was happy to hear from him.

As the day wore on, several VIPs such as 3rd District Congressional Candidate Kim Schmett arrived to accompany the delegation to day two of the convention. I however, did not join the delegation for day two. I passed my credentials on to another delegate who took my space on the floor then I and ventured outside of the secure zone around the convention, making my way to the Target Center in Minneapolis where Congressman Ron Paul was holding a sort of "alternative convention" with special guest former Gov. Jesse Ventura.

Several reports on the morning news spoke of almost riot conditions in some parts of St. Paul on Monday when violent protesters actually engaged local police leading to the use of tear gas and fire hoses. I had also spoken with a Bloomington resident who told me that she had been in St. Paul when those events took place and was so afraid of the protesters that she wasn't planning on returning to St. Paul until Friday when the convention was over. Armed with that information, I was a little worried about venturing out on my own beyond the secured gates of the convention. However, on my way from the convention center to the Target Center I didn't see anything resembling a riot, or even a protest. I was able to make it to the Ron Paul "alternative convention" unscathed.

Ron Paul has always been something of a curiosity to me. Before I left for the Republican National Convention, I received two official-looking DVDs labeled as "time-sensitive information for delegates." From the look of the covers on the DVDs, it was my assumption that they contained information like convention rules, procedure and a snapshot of what to expect in St. Paul. To my surprise however, neither of the DVDs contained any such information. Both of them were 2-hour-long advertisements for Ron Paul, one of which was very negative against the Republican nominee, John McCain.

I would like to say that I was shocked, but this is really something I have come to expect from Ron Paul's over-zealous supporters. What I do find surprising is the vast diversity in Ron Paul's supporters. A few members of our delegation supported Ron Paul and they are very intelligent, articulate and well-intentioned people. This is in direct contrast to the Ron Paul supporters who put out these DVDs. That diversity among his supporters never ceases to amaze me.

Paul's "alternative convention" reminded me a lot of the "alternative forum" that Congressman Paul held in Des Moines last year when he was not invited to participate in the candidate forum hosted by the Iowa Christian Alliance and Iowans for Tax Relief.

I have always been fascinated by the swarms of people who are attracted to Ron Paul in spite of his almost total unavailability as a candidate. After all, Ron Paul's rhetoric isn't exactly new. He is essentially saying the same thing today that he's been saying since his Libertarian days in the late 1980s but now, in the twilight of his political life, it seems as though someone finally got the memo.

Following a short visit to the Ron Paul convention, I made a two-block journey to a popular Minneapolis night club where former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee was scheduled to play a concert with country music star Josh Turner in honor of the Arkansas delegation.

As Governor Huckabee's former Iowa political director, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to see him and the rest of our staff again. By the time I finally arrived, the convention in St. Paul had ended and scores of delegates from around the country had boarded buses and were en route to the Huckabee reception.

After being handed my VIP pass and making the rounds chatting with old friends now employed with Huck PAC (Huckabee's Political Action Committee) I was told that the RSVP list was over 750 people and at least 100 more than that were likely to just show up. This was a far cry from the crowds of 20 people who came to meet Governor Huckabee in Pizza Ranches across Iowa last summer.

It's sort of heart-warming to see how far Governor Huckabee had come since I started working for him in February of 2007. In those days, we were always struggling to turn out even a handful of people to hear him speak around Iowa. Those days are long gone.

I guess it was appropriate that Huckabee's band, by playing the Brooks & Dunn hit "Only in America." This song brings back two memories for me: The first was when it was played when Huckabee took the stage to claim victory in the Iowa caucus on Jan. 3rd of this year. The second was when it was played when Huckabee took the stage to concede defeat in the South Carolina Primary on Jan. 19. I was personally with him on both occasions. They represent both the highest high, and lowest low of the campaign and the song "Only in America" was played at both. To hear him play it tonight was bittersweet for me and allowed me to personally reflect on a time in my life that I am truly grateful to have been a part of ... even in the middle of a crowded night club packed with dancing delegates, holding glow sticks and singing along with the band.

-- Enos was former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's political director during his victorious Republican caucus campaign.

Labels: RNC2008