Waitlisted!

Sorry, the community credentials have all been allocated.  With words to this effect, the Obama campaign informed me I didn’t make the cut for a ticket to hear his acceptance speech at Denver’s Invesco Field.

But let’s start at the beginning.

I’ve supported the Senator’s candidacy since mid-winter.  I’ve contributed, I’ve put up my yard sign, I’ve talked him up online.  Not fanatical support, I suppose, but solid and genuine.

When the idea of moving the acceptance speech to this larger venue was first announced, it was done online.  All contributors are on any campaign’s email list, of course, but Colorado Obama contributors received a separate notice.  Dutifully, even excitedly, I signed up for More Information As It Became Available.

Local news sources claimed 10,000 other locals had done the same.  A week later, there were 30,000 reported requests.  You know that some Convention Bigwigs will get in, too, but with 76,000 seats to fill, my odds still seemed pretty good.

Fast forward six weeks.  The campaign Information finally Became Available:  Sign up one more time, but this time, you get to offer to volunteer for the campaign to increase your chances.  Fearing it probably doomed me into the reject file, I clicked “no thanks”.

Today, the bad news was indeed delivered, via text message no less.  A followup email has since come, too:

            Dear Peter --

            We've been amazed by the number of people expressing interest in attending Barack's acceptance speech on the final night of the            

            Unfortunately, there are only a certain number of seats in the stadium, and we cannot fulfill every Coloradan's request to attend the event.

            Due to the high demand for Community Credentials, you have been placed on a wait list.

            We may be distributing more Community Credentials in the coming days, but we cannot guarantee that you will receive a credential. We will update you as we approach the beginning of the convention.

            Barack's acceptance of the nomination will be a truly historic moment, and there is another way you can make sure that you enjoy it.

            Sign up to host or attend a Convention Watch Party on August 28th.

Um, no, probably not.  Some solace.  It reminded me of Father Guido Sarducci’s Button Sale on Saturday Night Live in the ‘70s:  “I Saw the Pope on TV!”

It’s a brave new world of campaigning, but will it only bring us more of the same?  Q:  Who has restricted entrance to his speeches to only rabid supporters, to a level never dreamed of in the past?  A:  George W. Bush.