A view from inside the spin room
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers Inside the GOP debate's spin room

Hours before most of America sat down to watch the Republican presidential debate on television Wednesday night, hundreds of media representatives, event staff and volunteers rushed behind the scenes to get ready for the big event.

The Presidential Learning Center- an auditorium next to the Air Force One Pavilion usually reserved for special events- had been transformed into the media spin room, where reporters from all agencies were alerted shortly before 3 p.m. that Sen. John McCain of Arizona would come and make a special announcement.

Scores of reporters, photographers and camera-men hurried to find seating or an adequate place to stand, to make sure they'd all have a clear view of McCain when he finally arrived.

Less than 10 minutes later, it was former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani who entered the auditorium first, with McCain and his wife, Cindy, following behind.

"It's appropriate to make this announcement here at the Reagan Library, because President Reagan's leadership remains an inspiration to both John McCain and myself," Giuliani said at the podium. "When you run for president of the United States, you spend a lot of time thinking about the qualities you'd want in a chief executive of the United States. . . Obviously I thought I was that person, but the voters made another choice.

"Today, I am officially announcing my withdrawal as a candidate for president of the United States," he said.

Giuliani, who refused to run any negative commercials about McCain even after coming in third during the Florida primary, called McCain his friend and also announced that he would officially endorse the senator for the remainder of the race.

After the 10minute conference, the two exited the auditorium with their camps and headed toward the pavilion where, in less than two hours, the final GOP debate before California's "Super Tuesday" primary would begin.

With Giuliani's withdrawal from the race, the only candidates participating in the debate would be McCain, former governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney, former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.

Shortly before 4 p.m., word got back to the spin room that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would soon be arriving.

A reporter in the front row expressed her surprise.

"Wow," she joked, "This is the first time Schwarzenegger will actually be on time."

When the governor finally entered the Presidential Learning Center, members of the media quieted down and listened as Schwarzenegger gave his welcome address.

"Welcome to California," he said. "I know that there are a lot of people here who are from out of the country as well as out of the state.

"I just hope you will be spending a lot of money," he joked. "Because we're short on cash here in California and we need your revenues. So please stay… not just for a day or a week, but stay a month."

The audience of reporters laughed.

Schwarzenegger continued by saying he was pleased to have the debate at the Reagan Library, as he was one of the governor's biggest heroes.

By 5 p.m., some writers, broadcasters and media producers- from independent, local, national and international agencies- had sent their initial stories from the media filing tent just outside the Presidential Learning Center.

For the next hour and a half, many watched the debate on a giant screen in the spin room, while some stayed in the tent and watched it on several televisions that were scattered throughout.

Like those of the American public watching the debate quietly from home, the reporters at the Reagan Library witnessed the continuing rivalry between McCain and Romney, while Paul and Huckabee tried to interject answers too.

A broadcaster from NBC spoke to news anchors through a camera from inside the spin room, talking about the "charismatic candidates" and the events of hours before.

Debbie Wright, Simi Valley resident and manager of the Reagan Library's gift shop, was on guard duty, walking back and forth between the spin room and the filing tent to help make sure everything was going smoothly.

"There are more people this time," she said, comparing it to the last debate in Simi Valley in May 2007. "Yeah… there are definitely more people, but there was way more action in here before."

After the debate ended, the spin room began to fill up again. Those who were in the filing tent came back to the auditorium to await the candidates' representatives. Wright stood at the door to make sure those who entered had the proper credentials.

For several hours longer, the national spotlight stayed on Simi Valley. And just like last time, this little community became a forum for democracy and a stage for American history.