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Debate notebook
PAYING THE PRICE Campaigners' beds come at premium Even with the steep prices at Boston hotels this week, the Hilton Boston Logan Airport stood out. The Hilton -- known for its views of the construction cranes in the airport center, as well as those soothing landing sounds -- initially planned to charge the Bush campaign, and the reporters traveling with it, a full $379 room rate. But two days before the debate, the Hilton told Bush aides they would have to pay for two nights, or risk losing all 80 rooms -- even though Bush was in town for less than 24 hours. In other words, $758 for one night at the Logan Hilton. A hotel official, Sam Grabush, said the "intention was not to price-gouge," but to ensure that the rooms were available the minute Bush arrived. He also said it was the Bush campaign's decision to go with the two-room guarantee. In fact, he said, the campaign was getting a discount. Normally, the Logan Hilton is $449 a night. (Globe Staff) SCENE & HEARDBacker disgusted his man excluded A man wearing a Green Party T-shirt at the corner of Morrissey Boulevard and the entrance to the University of Massachusetts-Boston campus held a sign that read, "This debate makes me wanna Ralph." (Globe Staff) Followers compete to greet nominees Gore volunteers who arrived yesterday afternoon at UMass-Boston discovered a line of temporary barriers covered with posters reading "Bush-Cheney." The Gore people, who showed up after Bush arrived at the campus, covered the placards with "Gore-Lieberman 2000" signs. "We had signs up last night that mysteriously disappeared," said Gore volunteer Lorie Sutherland. "Their guy got a nice greeting going in, and we just want a nice greeting for our guy." The rules of intercession Overheard conversation between a staff member of the Commission on Presidential debates and a member of the Secret Service ... Commission staff member: "So, if I understand you correctly, if anyone approaches the stage, you and your people will, shall we say, intercede, possibly in what we might call an abrupt manner." Secret Service agent: "That is correct." Commission staff member: "I wholeheartedly endorse that." And the Secret Service agent smiles. Just a little. (Globe Staff)Inflated statement for funding reform Ted Dooley of St. Paul , Minn., sat cross-legged outside the campus, anchoring a 20-foot-tall inflated Liberty Bell tethered to his chest by a piece of twine. "Nothing is going to get said inside that hall," said Dooley, an advocate for campaign finance reform. "When people are in the voting booth they should give thought to all the other candidates and what they might have said if given a chance." THE VEEPS Nominees watch, and wait their turn RICHMOND, Ky. -- Running mates Dick Cheney and Joseph I. Lieberman were cheering their bosses from a distance last night and preparing for their own matchup tomorrow. Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, spent a second day tussling with aides in mock debates at a secluded mansion owned by Eastern Kentucky University. He and his wife, Hadassah, were watching the debate between Al Gore and George W. Bush at the mansion. Cheney, the Republican, and his wife, Lynne, were watching the debate alongside diners at a popular rib joint in Montgomery, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati. |
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