The show has ended but Americans could still hear noises echoing through the Xcel Energy Centre. Security, taxes, war and change were only some of the most mentioned words during the 39th Republican Convention held in St Paul, Minnesota last week. Nothing will be the same after the four days of speeches and evening parties. Inside the centre, not matter how spontaneous the speeches seemed, a teleprompter was there to show that there was no improvisation. Moreover, journalists were sent remarks from the speakers speeches ahead of delivery. Outside, was a complete different story - "Bush, McCain is the same, the only difference is the name", chanted people during a rally on the first day of the Convention. Carlos Gutierrez, Secretary of Commerce in the United States says, "Senator John McCain has always had a honesty policy with the people. Their positions are very clear and there are times when people disagree with their own party". Spoilsport. Despite Gustav threatening to stop the show, on day two the convention picked up pace. By Thursday, the final day of the convention, only a few delegates visited the Hurricane Center and their main purpose was to take advantage of the free notebooks. However, the Health Care Centre was much more successful. Scout Thielen, one of the doctors said they had a lot of work. "This is like a small city and we have all the same troubles - stress, fainting or hydration," he said. During the four days they handed out more than 300 band aids to help some Republican women who had problems with their new or high heel shoes. First Person. Alan Duff, a business man and one of the 44 Colorado delegates was delighted with the political meeting. It was his first time at a party national convention. He was also lucky: his seat was close to the podium. This because, he told, the organizers arranged for delegates from swing States like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Colorado to sit closer to the stage. But delegates from democratic States were not given good seats. "Look, over there, close to the door, you can see the delegates from Illinois", Duff added with a big smile. 
Gabi was the first who told me that I should go to the main floor of the Republican National Convention. She said: “You must go!” I was so busy working on my stories for my newspaper Zero Hora – and usually I filed three stories a day – that I didn’t go on the first day. But, the next day I decided to follow her steps. When I got to the main floor was like “Wow! I am at the place that we see on TV, where the most successful journalists from CNN and Associated Press are.” And then I realized that I was in the middle of history, not in the middle of my stories, but playing my role in the history of United States of America.
I am not a Republican or a Democrat, even an American. But I must to confess that it was an amazing experience being there and filing my stories from the stage.
Certainly, political conventions here in United States are such a big deal that they become a real show. Flashes, lights, big screens, teleprompters and, of course, high heels! We even saw some delegates with bright pins all over their clothes showing their unconditional support to the McCain-Palin ticket.
More than 45.000 republicans and about 15.000 journalists gathered during the four-day Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul. The city, which jostled with New York and other cities to host the RNC, hopes to receive an economic boost of $150 million because of this. You will not see something like this in Spain: no Spanish party could get so many people involved in its dynamics, even less in such a fancy way. It was really an amazing experience to learn from and to know the American people a little bit better.