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It shouldn’t be a surprise that when the Republican presidential nominee for president comes to La Crosse, he gets a room with a view.
John Peterson, general manager at the Radisson Hotel, said he got a chance to meet John McCain when the senator arrived at the downtown hotel Thursday evening.
The Arizona Republican, whose room overlooked Riverside Park, told Peterson he had a “beautiful view.”
Peterson said the hotel was contacted several days ago about the visit, and he said all 169 of his hotel’s rooms were booked Thursday night, many occupied by the campaign and traveling press corps.
The Radisson has hosted many high-profile politicians in the past, Peterson said, so he and his staff are familiar with the many extra security requirements such visits require.
— Scott Rada
srada@lacrossetribune.com
Bangor band played before start of rally
The Bangor High School band, with its 34 members, played a number of pep band songs before the rally. School officials got a call Thursday night from Republican state Rep. Mike Huebsch and accepted the offer to perform Friday.
“I’m pretty excited to get the opportunity for them,” said Elissa Kinstler, band director.
— Autumn Grooms
agrooms@lacrossetribune.com
No talk express
Unlike Barack Obama, who visited La Crosse nine days earlier, John McCain invited the local media to meet him at the airport and ride along to his hotel.
Given the maverick senator’s reputation for long and free-ranging bull sessions with the press, it seemed like a promising assignment.
But when McCain’s “Straight Talk Express” plane landed Thursday afternoon, there wasn’t much talking.
Reporters were allowed to stand under the wing of the 757 to document the arrival. The candidate and his wife, Cindy, waved and descended the stairs. They spoke briefly with supporters but not with the media before climbing into one of several waiting Chevy Suburbans.
The only sound bite was the whine of the jet engines.
The motorcade made its way through La Crescent, Minn., and back to the Radisson in La Crosse, but by the time the press got to the lobby, the McCains were in for the night.
Friday morning brought a renewed promise of face time, but after an hour or so of waiting in the Radisson ballroom as bags and computers were sniffed by an Air Force dog, it was time to get in the van.
After Friday’s rally, the McCains headed back to the airport, where the senator and his wife left on separate planes.
— Chris Hubbuch
chubbuch@lacrossetribune.com
