Decision 2016

Thank you, Cleveland.

July 22, 2016 By Paul Gleiser

Little things can often leave a big impression.

Arriving at the airport on my way out of Cleveland – laden with four equipment cases in addition to my suitcase – the rent car shuttle dropped us off at the terminal entrance.

There waiting were Republican convention host committee volunteers with baggage carts. Usually, you have to rent one of these for four or five bucks. But today, with upwards of 15,000 members of the media bugging out, our hosts had them lined up for our use for free.

On the concourse, similarly t-shirted volunteers were offering bottles of water.

Throughout the week, volunteers were posted on the street to answer questions and provide help. They were posted in the media center adjacent to the Quicken Loans Arena. Mostly, they smiled and said hello and made the trudge of covering a week-long event a bit more bearable.

Little things.

This is my 11th political convention. I am enroute to number 12. Super Bowls have much the same feel as a political convention and I have lost count of those.

With the possible exception of Super Bowl XLVI in Indy in 2012, I have never been better treated at one of these than I have been treated here in Cleveland.

The city – once mocked as “The Mistake on the Lake” – is bright and clean and, by every appearance, vibrant.

It is quite apparent that the city expended enormous effort to look its best this week.

The time and effort was well spent.

Thank you, Cleveland. You made quite the impression.