Category Archives: 2012 Election

The White House says the President landed at MIA at 1:20. So he’s five minutes ahead of schedule.

1:25 pm
The President arrives Miami, Florida
Miami International Airport
Open Press

1:45 pm
The President tours the Industrial Assessment Center
University of Miami
Travel Pool Coverage

2:25 pm
The President delivers remarks to University of Miami students and faculty members
University of Miami Field House
Open to pre-credentialed media

4:20 pm
The President delivers remarks at a campaign event
Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, Florida
Pooled TV, Open to Correspondents

5:55 pm
The President delivers remarks at a campaign event
Private Residence
Print Pool

7:00 pm
The President departs Miami, Florida en route Orlando, Florida
Miami International Airport
Open Press

The crowd cheers.

She welcomes Obama as a “thoughtful and cool leader” and as “hoopster in chief” says he’s welcome in the Hurricane’s basketball practice facility.

The followup, the student body president, is wearing an orange and green UM shirt. No coat and time for South Florida. He also speaks a lot longer then Shalala. But he ends strong, “We are honored to welcome you to the U.” The crowd loves it.

And then….nothing…the canned Presidential music is back on…

“The program will begin momentarily.”

This is good. They’ll get all the other stuff out the way early.

And indeed, we begin with the student body president leading the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. Then a UM student sings the National Anthem. She’s good, but now I want the opening pitch… and in a way we’re getting it: Shalala.

That is what they are doing in groups in the bleachers. Because my view of the bleachers, themselves at a right angle to the podium, is obstructed by a phalanx of TV cameras on a giant riser, I can’t tell if they are being egged on by someone, if a TV camera is panning the crowd and they are performing for it, or this is just a way to practice for the next Canes game.