- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Obama's (Almost) Round-the-Clock Coverage
Email
ShareJuly 06, 2008 2:03 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Sen. Barack Obama -- subjected now to a press pool of reporters categorizing his every move -- says that it's taken some getting used to adjusting to the new level of press surveillance.
It's been one week since the Obama campaign agreed to a "protective pool" or "bodywatch" -- allowing reporters to follow the Illinois Democrat, not only in his public moments, but his private moments of down time off the campaign trail, as well.
The pool has followed Obama to the gym, to neighborhood BBQ’s, to get his haircut, to his daughter’s soccer game, and even taking his wife out for a date at a hip Italian restaurant in Chicago. When Obama is inside his Hyde Park home, reporters wait for his next movement in a van parked outside. The additional amount of monitoring has left the presumptive Democratic nominee with a certain level of unease about his privacy and the pomp and circumstance of his every move -- even after a full week.
"I’ve never been a big entourage guy, and so, one of the adjustments of being a candidate is not being able to go take a walk somewhere without having a big fuss," Obama told his pool of reporters aboard his press plane on Saturday. "And that takes some getting used to."
While most of the private moments categorized by reporters are typical of a husband and a father, it is often a clue to the candidate’s lifestyle.
For example, pool reporters caught Obama heading to the gym every single day in the inaugural pool week. Reporters also now know the routine of Obama’s grooming schedule. The candidate gets his hair cut on a weekly basis, usually on Sundays in Chicago. The schedule also shows how the rigors of a candidate's lifestyle spill over to his private life. Reporters caught Obama yawning six times in 30 minutes while watching his oldest daughter’s soccer game, for example.
"Now, fortunately for Michelle and my life, our lives have been sufficiently boring that most of the things we do are not particularly press worthy anyway," Obama joked about the interest of his down time.
But minus the daily routine, the nearly round-the-clock surveillance also informs reporters of any goings on that the campaign may not want reporters to know about, but may be hard to hide with the new press contingent.
On the 4th of July in Butte, Mont., pool reporters picked up that Davis Guggenheim, director of "An Inconvenient Truth," was filming a convention video for the senator -- a tid bit the campaign did not share outright with reporters -- and wouldn’t have been known had it not been for the pool reporters spotting him leaving the building with Obama after private filming.
The Obama campaign says the decision to move to a protective pool with their candidate is part of them being an "open and transparent campaign," and they challenge the McCain campaign to do the same with his campaign coverage.
"We hope the McCain campaign will join us in welcoming the press to join them from dawn till dusk for family moments, like soccer games and movie nights," notes Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
Obama says that his family will maintain their regular life as best they can –– even with a large group of reporters trailing their every move.
"We’re gonna try to keep on doing the things that we do," Obama tells reporters.
What’s on tap this Sunday for the presumptive nominee who is "down" in Chicago with no campaign events?
An early morning workout with his brother-in-law, a haircut, a basketball game with his half sister, niece and his daughters, and a barbeque at a neighbor’s house.
Just a typical Sunday -- with a group of seven reporters in tow.
July 6, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (158)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
"How many people are under the Obama-BUS now"
John McCain and his complete campaign staff.
Posted by: Thinking | Jul 6, 2008 2:51:56 PM
The RNC is already pumping 3M in ads against Obama, in addition to a 527, Vets for I don't remember what, that is burning 1M in McCain's favor. So, why didn't Obama go for public financing? Um... I wonder!!!
P.S: Common sense, my friend!
Posted by: carl29 | Jul 6, 2008 2:52:24 PM
Maybe the reporters will finally start vetting him instead of drooling over him. At least we are beginning to hear more clear coverage on his flip-flops now, and people are realizing that he cannot be trusted. The implosion if finally beginning.
========================================
Who do the zombies support? You know whose name popped immediately into your head!
========================================
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Jul 6, 2008 2:54:46 PM
It is true that Senator Obama's is on TV too, too much. The sad thing, he has not said one complete sentence that was worth remembering. Besides, his position will change again with the temperatures rising. He is not presidential material.
Posted by: Mary | Jul 6, 2008 2:59:17 PM
hate isn't an answer to anything. it just eats you up from inside.
don't be scared of the future, because it is coming sooner than you think.
Posted by: hope | Jul 6, 2008 3:21:37 PM
It figures, the press is in love with Barack Obama and it shows in the extraordinary media bias in favor of Obama. RESIST THE COMMON MEDIA!
Posted by: Resist Liberalism | Jul 6, 2008 3:45:41 PM
Shouldn't the nation be more concerned about what the guy does IN OFFICE? I don't think anyone benefits from the knowledge that this guy cuts his hair once a week.
Ooh. His social habits are what you would expect from another human in the same position. I suppose that means he's human too, doesn't it?
Posted by: J | Jul 6, 2008 3:46:32 PM
President Obama is a BREATH OF FRESH AIR.
Posted by: wilder5121 | Jul 6, 2008 3:34:31 PM
===================================
===================================
He's a breath of something but I wouldn't call it fresh with all his rehashed socialist ideas coming straight out of the '60s.
Posted by: what? | Jul 6, 2008 3:46:57 PM
Of course he has to act down to earth not like he did in SF at the private fundraiser.
He is now trying to embrace working class family .
Have bbq, soccer ball games,picnic etc..
Posted by: catleya | Jul 6, 2008 3:47:22 PM
"Vote democratic across the board"
Posted by: Lou | Jul 6, 2008 3:46:39 PM
=======================================
=======================================
You don't want us to even look at the issues of the candidates? Yeah, I guess that is a pretty Democrat idea.
COME ON guys look at your candidates, look at their issues. There will be some you like and dislike from BOTH parties but don't let a party name tag decide your vote for you.
Posted by: WOW | Jul 6, 2008 3:51:43 PM
Reality tv?
Posted by: lois | Jul 6, 2008 4:05:43 PM
Obama just give a Democrat smile once in a while and make those reporters happy. They will report that smile and how happy it made them and then America will be happy. Just don't over do it or they will turn on happiness.
Posted by: Bobby | Jul 6, 2008 4:11:05 PM
So what will Obama do if he does not win the GE, after all the media coverage, press camping outside his house, this rock star status.
It's is going to be very dull if he has to get off this high, I hope he can handle it and not go off the deep end if he has to go back to living life just as normal like all of us.
Posted by: SJ | Jul 6, 2008 4:17:31 PM
Hey,,since here has lots of dust. How about breaking news,,,
Nadel just won!
Posted by: catleya | Jul 6, 2008 4:19:01 PM
Mccain is the worst flip flopper in presidential campain history. He flip flops on tax, Iraq, immigration, drilling,etc. I don't think he will be willing to have the press around him like Obama. So many secreats will come out.
Posted by: Independent Josh | Jul 6, 2008 4:23:44 PM
If the press only now starts to follow Obama, they are late. Clinton is already robbed.
Posted by: Sylvia Johnsen | Jul 6, 2008 4:25:36 PM
The laws in USA.are that once a person reaches 65 he or she has to get out of the work forse.(RETIRE)
What in Hell John McCain at 72 plus years of age applying for a Goverment Job?
Posted by: JOHN MELIDEO | Jul 6, 2008 4:41:39 PM
I guess Obama thinks he is a big movie star now. He wants the press to follow him everywhere he goes; He sounds like a narcissist. Can his arrogant superior attitude get any worse? Sickening!
Posted by: rogersm234 | Jul 6, 2008 5:05:38 PM
when has he not had excess media coverage? you guys are a joke. haven't the last 8 years proved we the people are not as dumb as you think we are?
Posted by: kurios eg | Jul 6, 2008 5:12:43 PM
Even the media thinks Obama is a joke.
Posted by: rogersm234 | Jul 6, 2008 5:15:40 PM
Post a comment
