The RNC and DNC Conventions were defining of this year’s presidential race. On August 28th – just after the RNC and just before the DNC – Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight Blog at the New York Times had President Obama’s odds of winning at 68.7% and Romney at 31.3%. From that point on, it’s been all Obama; as of September 28, President Obama is at 82.7 with Romney dropping to 17.3%. The RNC’s Convention was a party for the country club while the DNC’s was a party for the country.

Having the advantage of being credentialed media in addition to a National Delegate allowed the opportunity to talk to media from across the country that covered both events, and universally the response was that Charlotte was a much more open event, for the media, delegates, and average citizens alike. Tampa, I was repeatedly told, was a high security, keep people and the press away event – and the further away the better. At Charlotte, the limited protests that actually were present could and did get right downtown into the heart of where the action was. Fundie Westboro types set up literally on the sidewalk in front of the Convention Center – with AMPLIFIERS. And I capitalized that, because they were VERY LOUD. And obnoxious, too.

So there were some clear differences between the Conventions. Here’s some of my observations from Charlotte:

It was a lot of fun to Road Trip to Charlotte with a couple of guys; we met on Friday at DFL HQ on Plato. The crew got to know each other much better AND have some fun on the way down – like seeing the fake lemons outside of Lyin’ Ryan’s office in Janesville, Wisconsin. If I were better and faster with iMovie, I’d have a YouTube made of Cliff’s BS Detector going crazy on I-94, and following it to where fake lemons hung like Christmas ornaments in a tree. Which surprised the three of us; we figured why have fake lemons outside when the real lemon was the congressman inside?

One of the slurs GOPers like to hurl at us on the left side of the aisle is we’re “Big-City Democrats.” So I found it ironic that the GOP held their convention in a big city, while by no stretch of the imagination is Charlotte a “big city.” Nice city, yes. And with local foods to die for. I absolutely had the best fried chicken, ever. Period. End of story. So I applaud the choice of Charlotte for the convention; I think it makes for a great convention to hold it in a smaller city – it was the biggest show in town and everyone was very happy to have it there. A convention, like the RNC did, in Tampa? A drop in the bucket, for a big city. Plus, it takes away a talking point for the GOPers.

Because Charlotte is a smaller city, The Host Committee had to be very creative in where to stage events – such holding the Saturday night pre-convention Media Party at the North Carolina Music Factory.

The Sunday Night Delegation Welcome Parties were split up and held in a variety of venues. The Minnesota Delegation teamed up with delegates from Louisiana, New York, Puerto Rico, D.C., South Dakota and Texas for a party at a science museum – which reminded EVERYONE that we’re Democrats, because GOPers these days simply don’t believe in science. Other states met at at venues such as the National Whitewater Center and the Carolina Raptor Center and, of course, the NASCAR museum. I thought it was really cool to hold these events in the venues that they did, and a lot more fun than just some convention center hall. Note to 2016 Host Committee — just do it!

Monday was a party for the people – CarolinaFest. It was essentially a big party downtown featuring two music stages with James Taylor as headliner; weather wiped out a performance by Jeff Bridges and the Abiders. Other acts were local in nature – which is a good thing. The Host Committee did their best to make sure as much local flavor as possible was in everything the Host Committee did.

The Convention went off well. I’ve seen a LOT of speeches, and I’ve NEVER seen one as amazing as First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech on opening night. When she was speaking, you could hear a pin drop (between applause); everyone wanted to hear every single word. The place was packed to the rafters – and everyone was paying attention. Even in the corridors it was quiet; everyone was crowded by the TV’s on the wall or running back to (non-existent) seats in the arena. It was so good, I’m going to put it up so people can watch it again!

This version, as of this time, has 1,956,737 views.

I knew it was going to be a great speech. Before speakers go on the stage, copies of their speeches are available to the media so they (we!) can start writing/working before the speech starts. For instance, in the photo to the right, taken in the media area, one intrepid media type is pre-loading her tweets. This photo was taken during President Obama’s address – which, while very, Very, VERY good – didn’t measure up to The First Lady’s, IMNSHO. When I picked up the copy of The First Lady’s speech, and read through it, I knew it was going to be a great one. And the First Lady nailed that speech.

That scene, our intrepid media type standing and tweeting, was typical – especially on Day Three. It was supposed to be held in the Football Stadium; weather concerns caused the finale from being held outdoors with 70,000 to inside. And that move caused about 25,000 to be crammed into an arena that holds 15,000. But as they say: “ya know what?” – the job got done and the stories got written.

The DFL Staff, from Marge Hoffa & Ken Martin & Corey Day to Kate & Carlie & Heidi & everyone – did a great job under sometimes difficult conditions. There’s always SNAFU’s at every event; the issue isn’t the SNAFU – it’s how it’s dealt with. The DFL Staff did a fine job.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that The Mayor – R.T. Rybak – seemed to be everywhere. Including delivering a great speech! “Pyromaniacs shouldn’t blame the fire fighter” – gotta love that line!!!

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t thank my host for the Convention, Dusty Trice. Dusty served as the Director of Digital Strategy for The Host Committee, go to that website and you’ll see his name at the bottom of every page.

And I’d also be remiss if I didn’t thank Paul Bengston of Seven Corners Printing – Paul and Seven Corners made that button way at the beginning; I just hauled ‘em down and handed ‘em out to the Minnesota Delegates.

Finally, I’d like to thank the two guys that Road Tripped this event; we’re a little tired but happy for the memories of a lifetime. From finding fake lemons to taking the scenic route through the mountains to to The Pride Party to being there to nominate President Obama for Four More YEARS! – it was quite a trip. While Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight Blog has this race looking very good for a second term, there is still work to be done before the celebration can begin. There’s only five weekends left before election day on November 6th – and lots of phone calls to make and doors to knock to make sure it IS an election night celebration.

From all the Romney Shambles before the conventions, to all of the differences the two conventions pointed out, to Romney’s Libya & Open Mouth, Then Insert Foot fiasco to Romney’s devastating 47% comments at a fundraiser – all that doesn’t matter if there isn’t an end game and folks don’t show up to vote.

As Paul Wellstone said: “The future belongs to those who are passionate and work hard.”

The future is now.

GOTV – Get Out The Vote.

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)