A DELEGATE’S JOURNAL

Editor’s note — Jenny Honeycutt, a first-time Republican National Convention delegate from South Carolina, is sharing her daily convention journal.

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NEW YORK — The unbridled anticipation of the kickoff of the Republican National Convention was harnessed at the start of the day with a breakfast in honor of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.

We heard from notable South Carolina figures like newspaper columnist Armstrong Williams, state party chairman Katon Dawson, Speaker of the S.C. House David Wilkins and the guest of honor himself, Sen. Graham.

From the breakfast, we were escorted to Madison Square Garden by New York’s finest. The city has gone out of its way to ensure the safety of both delegates and residents.

The streets have been blocked, and officers are on every corner directing traffic for the GOP buses traveling to and from the convention. It was humbling to see how well the city had prepared for our visit.

The convention began promptly at 10 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem sung by the Gatlin Brothers and an inspirational prayer glorifying our God almighty for the evidence of his hand in our nation’s founding.

The convention platform — “A Safer World and a More Hopeful America” — articulated the compassion this generation of Republicans and our president embrace.

It begins: “One hundred and fifty years ago, Americans who gathered to protest the expansion of slavery gave birth to a political party that would save the Union — the Republican Party.”

Today that party comprises a cross section of Americans represented by the diverse group of delegates at the convention. I was honored to be among such an accomplished group of activists, organizers, candidates, and local as well as national leaders from around the country.

The day came full circle, as Sen. Graham introduced one of President Bush’s strongest supporters, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, during the evening session.

It was a proud moment for the South Carolina Republican Party.

Jenny Honeycutt, 24, is the youngest delegate in the S.C. contingent. The Charleston native plans to graduate in December from the USC School of Law.