Jack Ford is a veteran of five of the last seven Republican National Conventions. He's taken leave as president of Encinitas-based California Info Place to run the daily operations of the Host Committee. Ford knows a horse race among several candidates means an additional influx of national media. If Dole cakewalks into the nomination, about 8,000 media are expected. A tight race means more than 12,000 will show up.
More media means greater coverage.
The world will get a glimpse of San Diego thanks to the hundreds of media rigs that will make Harbor Drive look like a highway truck stop. Running cables to and from trucks and the Convention Center will take considerable effort. Successful hookup will be attained by snaking some cables through the ventilation system, according to Brad Gessner. The area south of the center, recently approved for exhibit hall expansion, will be completely unusable. Although work on the expansion site is scheduled to start this month, Ford says construction will cease while the convention is in progress.