The chase

Two hours in the life of a political reporter

by Seth Gitell

Monday, July 31, 12:20 p.m. My mission: get an interview with Holbrook native Andrew Card, the man in charge of the scripted Republican National Convention. There are rumors that Card had accompanied Senator John McCain of Arizon the previous day to make sure he released his delegates to George W. Bush. I want to find out if it's true. My obstacle: finding him among the thousands of delegates, political operatives, and members of the press attending the convention.

12:30 p.m. I ask a young Republican aide at the First Union Media Center for an interview with Card. Ten minutes later the GOP whipper-snapper returns with a pink message slip bearing the names of other press aides who can provide access to the former Massachusetts state represenative.

12:45 p.m. Everyone on the message slip has been called, yielding the name of yet another functionary who could set up an interview with Card.

12:50 p.m. I call this latest contact. When he answers he demands to know who gave out his cell phone number and barks: "Call back in 15 minutes."

1:05 p.m. I call him back. He answers his cell phone and immediately hangs up.

1:15 p.m. I call once more but now he's not answering.

1:16 p.m. I make my way through the Philly humidity to get back to my hotel to regroup. Once back at the hotel I give up hope of interviewing Card and prepare to go back out to make a pre-arranged interview across town.

2:15 p.m. I'm in the elevator and I'm soaking up as much AC as I can before I have to head back out into the humidity. As I stand there, the only other person in the elevator - a cool, lean character - inquires, "You havin' any fun yet?" I sigh and reply, "Just doing what we can but it's not easy." My elevator partner gets a little jiggy. "Wait a minute, are you press or a delegate?" he asks. I disclose my identity, and note that the press from Massachusetts always stays with the Commonwealth delegation at nominating conventions. Before he can say anything else, his cell phone rings. "Neil Bush," he answers. This is the Bush who got caught up in the S & L mess during the 1980s. He hangs up. Now the shoe is on the other foot and it's my turn to ask questions. I decide to be merciful. "Who's better looking - you or your brother?" "That's up the American public," Bush says and gracefully strides out of the elevator toward - none other than - Andrew Card. Bush runs up to Card exuberantly, grabs his shoulder and exclaims in a pretty good imitation of a Boston accent - the South Shore kind, not the phoney Kennedy kind you hear on television - "Andy Cahd."

2:17 p.m. I watch Bush and then approach Card and ask for a quick interview. He consents. In answer to a question suggesting he's at the center of this convention, he says: "I'm in the middle of it and I'm melting, melting, melting," he jokes. Then he snaps into spin mode. "I'm a passionate supporter of Governor Bush. I'm eager to show the world what his leadership is about." What about his role with the McCain delegates? "I was with McCain yesterday after the Shadow Convention. He asked for me to be there when he released his delegates. It was the right thing for him to do. The best way for him to accomplish what he wants to accomplish is for George Bush to be elected."

Card, like Governor Paul Cellucci, is an long-time ally of the Bushes. His connection with the family goes back to 1979 when he supported Bush in the primary over Reagan. Card then went to Washington and became Secretary of Transportation. The fact that he's back in such a key role suggests - along with the high appointment of former Defense Secretary Richard Cheney - that if Bush is elected we will see Bush II.

Neil Bush would tell you that.