I wrote a post on the Reuters blog here.
Please note that my father is so far the only one who has commented on it (he tends to do that :]).
To sum it up, a bunch of Indian-Americans (and many others here) thought the convention was actually happening in Minneapolis. That’s because both cities are technically hosting (neither is capable of accommodating the crowds on its own). But they’re both hosting it in name only, because EVERYTHING happens in St. Paul.
When I went to the Indo-American dinner Tuesday, it was in Minneapolis. I wondered at that; it takes a good forty minutes to get out there from the Xcel Center.
Once everyone was leaving the dinner, I realized what had happened. Practically all of these guys are staying in Minneapolis, and let me tell you - that trek is frustrating to make. Public transportation in the Twin Cities is not nearly extensive enough to manage it, plus a large area around the convention is blocked off to anything but registered vehicles (I was originally staying with a newspaper lady out in Minn., but Reuters switched me to their hotel complete with direct shuttle after it took me THREE HOURS to come in on Monday. In fairness, the buses were riding on holiday schedule).
People staying in Minnesota are usually without car and generally not allowed on the shuttles - which tend to be for delegates or press. So they’re taking cabs. That adds up to about $50 bucks a day. No small price to pay, but they love McCain.
Kishan Putta, national director of Indians for McCain, told me he squeezed five people “Indian style” into the last cab he took, to make the cost worthwhile.
I won’t give away the secret of why staying in Minneapolis ended up being the most exciting decision they could have made. You’ll have to read my Rooters post for that.
