Breakfast with Wyoming and 6.1 Million Pennies!

By: Michael Geheren

Today things are going back to normal at the Republican National Convention—kind of. We are starting to hear speakers take on the Democrats. Yesterday, speeches were short and focused on how to help victims of Hurricane Gustav.

Today I started out coverage of Day Two at the Repubican convention by having breakfast with the Wyoming delegation. I talked to the US Senator Mike Enzi and many other people from Wyoming. Did you know Wyoming has three senators? Every state has 2 and there are 100 right? Wrong! There are actually 101—sometimes that is. Vice President Dick Cheney is the head of the senate and has a vote when there is a tie.

After the breakfast we headed to the Minneapolis Convention Center to see Cindy McCain and Laura Bush at the One Campaign event. A group of about 200 people gathered to assemble caregiver packages for people working with AIDS victims in Subsahara Africa. My dad couldn't get in without press credentials, so he volunteered to help put together the packages. I helped, too, after getting my interviews. We put surgeon's gloves, Vasoline, cotton balls, pens, notebooks,  flashlights, and medications into orange plastic boxes. These boxes were sealed up in cartoons, ready for shipping.

Also, at this event, I spoke to a representative of Got Cents? campaign. She and her parents brought in 6.1 million pennies and laid them out in the shape of a ribbon. Each penny represented a person who has died of AIDS. I never saw so many pennies in my life! Stack them up one on top of the other and they would go 6 miles high!

I also visited  the Civic Fest, which featured a miniature of the White House, a presidential limo, and Air Force One from the Nixon era.

We also interviewed Meghan McCain at the Civic Fest. She was leaving and her handler said she couldn't stop for an interview. But when Ms. McCain heard we were from Scholastic, she said, "Oh, I love Scholastic. I can take a minute for Scholastic." THANKS, MEGHAN!

Next stop: the Xcel Center where the convention is being held.  I was interviewed by ABC radio WLS from Chicago. The station had one of dozens of desks set up on Radio Row in the Xcel Energy Center.

Now we are in the arena where normally the Minnesota Wild hockey team plays. Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman was the first speaker to take on the Democrats. I expect a lot more of that as the night goes on.

PHOTO: Meghan McCain, daughter of Republican presidential nominee John McCain, talks to Scholastic News Kid Reporter Michael Geheren from the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 2, 2008. Photo by Bill Geheren

Comments

[Kol]

Even though McCain says he'll make things better. Will he stick to his words?

I don't think Miccain will make things better.

[amy]

I think Obama will be good for America he has made good choices and is good with kids

[Jay]

I think Obama should win, since I really don't want the war to continue. Since kids,adults, and elderly can lose there own lives or even someone they really care about. XxXxObama Rul3zxXxX

[AHHHHHHHHH]

obama rules. i believe he's a really good guy. and our country needs him

[Ariel]

i think obama will make a really good president

[ANNA]

OH WOW.Its terrible how it yhappend