John Little
I heard from Kendra that she and Kim were doing the walk through Belmont’s Curb Event Center right when I was sitting in traffic on 1-40. It was something I really wanted to see – how Thursday’s debate was being handled behind the scenes. I have covered debates before back in the day as a reporter, but seeing the intricate details in the waning hours before the event was intriguing. The lottery of what order the candidates would speak in, drawing numbers on who would sit where, audio/digital specialist explaining the intricacies.
I find this compelling. I was stuck behind a semi. Thus the life of working on a political campaign when you live halfway across the state.
After I finally arrived in Nashville, the afternoon was spent with a quick lunch celebrating Kendra’s birthday and last-minute preparations before heading the five blocks from the campaign headquarters to the university. Kim showed me pictures of earlier campaigns she worked on, talking of the pre-rally that would take place before the actual debate. Kendra worked making sure that Mike’s wife, Mary Jane, and his father, Ned, would get to the event in as stress-free a manner as possible. Ashley, the new volunteer coordinator, stuck to her phone and her computer, organizing details on where everyone should be and at what time.
Andrew, who will be traveling with Mike in the coming months, learned some of the social media elements that you will see more of in the coming weeks as we head into high gear. Phones rang constantly, chargers were plugged in the walls to keep cell phones up and running.
Headquarters at Team McWherter was buzzing. It was a pretty good feeling.
And then it was time.
Events like these, and any campaign stop quite frankly, are logistical.
The winding catacombs underneath the Curb Event Center led us to Mike’s holding room and the rules were very clear on what we had to do. All of the campaign teams went through this. Precision and understanding of the rules set by NewsChannel 5 and the coordinators behind the SCORE event were crucial to follow.
Prepping for the pre-rally, Christian and Ashley placed signs lining the walkway as people entered the arena.
It was time. If you’ve never met John Little before, you need to. You need to drive around Nashville shouting his name because there isn’t another person on the planet so filled with positive energy and a wicked understanding of how to fire up people. At the entrance to the event, supporters for Mike gathered. Ashley handed out signs, some home-made, to eager supporters who were braving the freezing temperatures to support Mike.
And John Little took to the bullhorn.
Pre-rallys are odd, yet infectious beasts. Crowds gathered from other campaigns as well as volunteers from Team McWherter coming together on the front lawn. Pleasantries were exchanged with people who were working for other candidates. It’s a congenial time where questions of family and ‘how do you like this weather?’ small talk were discussed as our breath created a frozen cloud in front of everyone cheering on their candidate.
In the beginning, it was low-key. Then the chanting began. It was on.
With John Little leading Team McWherter, bullhorn in hand, the grassy common was filled with a roar.
Signs were held and supporters from across the state gathered together, including McWherter supporters from all 
corners of the state. Mary Jane joined us as well and the cold was temporarily forgotten as you heard the laughter while one candidate’s group tried to out cheer the others.
For anyone that has worked on campaigns before, this sort of stuff is old hat. It was new for me. We want to show you the faces behind the campaign – the volunteers who make a difference behind every election.
These folks give their time because they care.
As it became time to head to our seats, it was time for the candidates to answer the important questions.
Our jobs, for the time being, were done and Mike’s began, speaking to Tennesseans about his views on education.
And we start another week Traveling Tennessee.
~Trace
while maintaining enough revenue to grow infrastructure, he said.
