News 14 Carolina - Political Connections

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

If you think Myrtle Beach is crazy in the summer you ought to see it now. In a few hours the Democratic Presidential candidates will debate here at the Palace Theater.

Umm...the security is secure to say the least. We had to drop off our satellite truck at the theater yesterday and couldn't move it an inch after that. The media filing center is at a seafood restaurant two blocks down the road!!! CNN rented out this restaurant. So, the newspaper, radio, and internet folks won't even be on the same side of the road. We have our satellite truck right next to the theater so that's a good thing. However, we will never be allowed in the debate hall and will never even see the candidates.

That's why we have spent a lot of time outside to show more than what you would see on tv. The security is insane. With the Republicans you could walk right up to the candidate and say hello. It's different with Obama and Clinton. They both have secret service and then you add on Bill Clinton and it might as well be a Secret Service reunion or conference.

There are barricades up along the entire edge of the theater's property which is at Broadway at the Beach if you're familiar with the area. There are police on quads riding all along the border of the property.

Just outside the property there is a massive sand sculpture of the candidates. It's 55 feet wide and 19 feet high and uses 1000 tons of sand. Over the last several days a ton of people have come to see it. Today, there is as much politikin going on there as there will be in the debate. Supporters of Clinton and Edwards have put up signs everywhere and are talking to people driving by.

Advocates for about 10 causes (Prevent Global Warming, Prevent AIDS, etc.) are holding up signs as well and playing music and talking to people trying to get pictures of the sand castle.

In other words, it's pretty crazy around here!! We're set up in the spin room to get a feed of the debate which is where I'll be most of the night.

Tomorrow we're probably headed to an Edwards' event to get a feel of how he's doing post debate.

I'll try to post a little more later....