Media flock to Greenville

GREENVILLE -- For at least a day, the media's glaring spotlight will shine brightly on the Upstate.

About 600 members of the media, some from as far away as Japan and New Zealand, descended on the Peace Center Wednesday morning in preparation for tonight's Democratic presidential debate.

The debate, which will be carried live on NBC and MSNBC, will thrust Greenville into the international spotlight and pump about $3 million into the local economy.

NBC news anchor and debate moderator Tom Brokaw will broadcast the nightly news from the Peace Center.

"It's huge," said Doug Dent, chairman of the debate volunteer committee. "It's a positive thing for Greenville."

Crews from MSNBC began arriving at the Peace Center Sunday night.

Since then, about 50 workers have spent the better part of three days transforming the Peace Center and the nearby Westin Hotel into a virtual television studio.

South Carolina Democratic Party officials and MSNBC producers gave campaign workers a walk-through of the facility.

Campaign workers were shown everything from how to help their candidate find his dressing room to tips on how to get a good media shot.

Television crews will be positioned on a platform in a parking lot directly across from the Peace Center to videotape candidates arriving at the Peace Center.

"You cannot stop and talk, but you can get a nice shot of them smiling and waiving as they enter," said Jenny Backus, debate media coordinator.

Party officials have nicknamed the room where reporters will be after the debate the "spin room."

Backus advised campaign workers of where reporters and television cameras would be positioned so each candidate could get maximum exposure.

"The faster you get to the spin room and get that done, the more time you have to schmooze with people," Backus said.

Schmoozing -- or flattery -- is a key component in most political campaigns.

But media exposure is more critical in South Carolina because the Democratic Party needs to prove it can run a campaign in the South.

A group of cocktail parties was held Wednesday night for out-of-town press members.

"It's great publicity because a lot of folks don't know there are Democrats in Greenville," Backus said. "But there are."

Tony Taylor can be reached at 562-7219 or tony.taylor@shj.com.

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mike bonner
Furman students Daniel Ennis, left, and Ian Duggan stand in for Howard Dean and John Kerry during a debate rehearsal at the Peace Center.

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