Spinning!
By DeMarian Williams
Just finished the spin room. Very hectic! People push and shove to get their questions answered by the surrogates representing the two candidates. It was also very loud, and no matter where you stood, you were always in some camera shot. If anyone knows me in Kansas City or St. Louis, you can see me on Fox 2 news in the background!
I spoke to Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Linda Douglass, Obama's media spokesperson. Everyone thought their person won and many went into detail.
"Sarah Palin is shaking things up in Alaska and John McCain is shaking things up in Washington," Graham said. "I hope your generation will think long and hard before deciding, so we can get the next four years right."
"She's effective, she's been a Governor," said fellow Governor Bill Richardson, who was also a presidential candidate in the Democratic primary. "But she can't compare to Joe Biden. She memorizes her talking points, but when it comes to answering questions about the differences between Senator Obama and Senator McCain, she doesn't know the issues. She couldn't go beyond her talking points."
When asked what he thought was Biden's strongest point, he told Scholastic News it was all about Biden's experience.
"Biden's strongest point was his knowledge of foreign and domestic policy," Richardson said. "It's his 30 years in the Senate. He was calm, he was respectful and it showed."
One thing you can tell in the spin room is how important someone is. the bigger the name, the bigger the crowd around that person. Getting next to Mayor Rudy Giuliani or Senator Joe Lieberman was almost impossible. They were probably the biggest names in the room. They also spent most of their time in front of cameras and not with the print media hanging out waiting for a quote.
TOP PHOTO: South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham talks to reporters in the spin room at Washington University in St. Louis, MIssouri, host of the vice presidential debate on October 2, 2008.
BOTTOM PHOTO: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson with Kid Reporter DeMarian Williams after the vice presidential debate. Photos by Suzanne Freeman
wow i did not know spin rooms were like that. infact i never new there was a such thing as a spin room.
Posted by: nicole | October 03, 2008 at 12:40 AM
I personally think that Sarah Palin was avoiding some of her questions. When the moderator(Glen Ifill) was asking gov. Palin for responses to question she would constantly say that she would like to go back to energy or she would like to back to taxes. I don't think she was that much prepared.
Posted by: Shaunsey from atlanta | October 03, 2008 at 09:51 AM
this is such a cool website I have learned so much about the Election
Posted by: Kerry | October 03, 2008 at 01:57 PM
That's really interesting ,I've never even heard of a spin room
Posted by: Ryan | October 03, 2008 at 02:02 PM
i didn't even know they had a spinning room. i would love to go to one! i pobably couldn't see though
Posted by: Lindsey | October 04, 2008 at 09:04 PM
When you say senator Palin wasn't talking beyond her talking points, mabey she just wasn't comfertable talking about those issues.
Posted by: Cara | October 05, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Mccains biggest threat to oboma. If Obama had Palin he would be a super power.
Posted by: Chandler | October 05, 2008 at 10:21 AM
The spin room seems very hectic and loud. It would be neat to be in the middle of all of that action.
Posted by: Austin | October 05, 2008 at 09:36 PM
the spin room would be fun to be a part of. to be all loud and crazy
Posted by: zach | October 06, 2008 at 08:36 PM
I think that we should hear the facts and not someone else's "spin" on things!
Posted by: Candace | October 07, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Wow I didnt even know it was a Spinroom I would like to go to one and interview the Senators and Governers
Posted by: LeDarius | October 07, 2008 at 09:37 AM
It would be very interesting to be in the spin room with all of the canidates. However,In my opinion Palin doesnt pay any attention to what is happining in the U.S. When reporters ask her questions, she will usually change the subject. I do not think that she is yet prepared to be Vice President.
Posted by: Taylor | October 07, 2008 at 09:43 AM
this is a cool website and you learn alot from it
Posted by: Cedrick | October 07, 2008 at 11:08 AM
ur artical rocked. keep up the good work!!!!!:)
Posted by: Aesha | October 07, 2008 at 11:16 AM
I dont think Obamah understands that we are having difficulties with gas
Posted by: bryton | October 07, 2008 at 11:44 AM
I think Obama is upset because he was going to win but when McCain pick Palin he saw that McCain votes was going up and his is going down
Posted by: Heather | October 07, 2008 at 01:20 PM
we think Palin will make a great v.p
Posted by: chanise and meghan | October 07, 2008 at 01:24 PM
ive never heard of a spin room how intresting
Posted by: isaiah | October 07, 2008 at 04:10 PM
It would be really cool to go to a spin room, I always wanted to see one because I think it would be interesting.
Posted by: Lukin | October 07, 2008 at 04:16 PM
I dont think I would be able to stand that many people around me and all that noise.
Posted by: hannah | October 08, 2008 at 02:16 PM
THIS SUCH A COOOOOOOOL SITE WE NEVVER KNOW THAT THIS WAS A SITE
Posted by: TAYLOR&SEARIA | October 08, 2008 at 04:51 PM
I never knew that a spin room was a room where the press asked all of the important people questions. Thank you for telling me.
Posted by: Chrissy | October 12, 2008 at 01:55 PM
That would be "intresting" to be in a spin room
Posted by: Ryan | October 13, 2008 at 07:11 PM
This is awesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Posted by: Brandi | October 13, 2008 at 07:27 PM
The vice presidential debate was fun to watch
Posted by: lyndon | October 15, 2008 at 12:05 PM