Michigan delegates make a statement at convention
By Laura MeadESCANABA - Judi Schwalbach said Michigan delegates got noticed at the Republican National Convention Wednesday night, when Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin gave her acceptance speech.
Schwalbach, who has been attending the convention all week, said Attorney General Mike Cox has made a tradition of bringing the Michigan delegates shirts to wear to the national conventions, so they stand out as a group. This year, the shirts were hockey jerseys. Schwalbach said she brought a sign to hold up that read "Hockey Moms for Palin." She said the uniforms were successful in getting attention.
"When Palin came onstage and recognized what we (Michigan delegates) had on, we got the thumbs up from her," said Schwalbach.
The acceptance speech Palin gave Wednesday was inspiring to the former Escanaba mayor.
"To think she could go from a small town like Escanaba and then become governor and then move on to be vice presidential nominee...I was so honored to be on the floor when the first Republican woman was accepting a nomination for vice presidency."
Schwalbach said she told a broadcaster in an interview after the convention, "glass ceilings all over the world broke last night."
Schwalbach said she's been lucky enough to enjoy good seats at the convention. She explained the first layer of risen seats are for alternate delegates, and in order to sit on the floor you must be a delegate.
"I get down on the floor because our districts are really good about getting people on the floor if someone wants to give up their credentials," she said.
Schwalbach was elected a first district alternate delegate by the Delta County convention. She was first elected to attend the state convention and then ran to attend the national convention and was the elected fourth delegate for Michigan's 1st District.
Schwalbach said being on the convention floor is like being in a movie.
"You're sitting there on the floor and you've got Henry Kissinger there, Newt Gingrich and Bill O'Reilly," she said.
She even got the chance to talk "energy" with T. Boone Pickens.
"We walked around for half an hour discussing energy, and I asked what would he suggest for Escanaba and its issues with power right now. I gave him my card and asked him to e-mail me some suggestions."
Schwalbach said Thursday afternoon that Michigan delegates have been enjoying their time at the convention and would have an even better view of the stage at that night's convention when John McCain gave his acceptance speech.
