DNCC Hosts Party for Media

The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) hosted a party for media tonight at NASCAR Hall of Fame. The event was to welcome the hundreds of visiting journalists who are participating in the DNC Winter Media Walkthrough tomorrow, which is scheduled to include tours of Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte Convention Center, and Bank of America Stadium, while also explaining the media logistics for those of us who will be covering the convention in September.
NASCAR Hall of Fame was an excellent choice of venue. Not only does its management, I’m sure, value the exposure of being in front of journalists from around the country, but the venue also provided an entertaining atmosphere to people who might not be very familiar with the sport and its importance to Charlotte. NASCAR legend Junior Johnson was on hand and so was his moonshine. It was funny to see men in suits and women in skirts and heels change tires and refuel cars in mock pit stops in one of the many interactive kiosks amongst the exhibits. (NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, which includes the 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, is this weekend, by the way.)
There was great food and an open bar—which always make members of media happy. I saw representatives from USA Today, Politico, BET, CBS Radio, Univision, and even Al Jazeera, to name a few, along with colleagues from several of our local news stations and publications. Several local elected officials were in attendance as well.