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Faces of the convention: The younger crowd
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The average age of a Republican delegate at the convention is 54, but hordes of people under 30 can be seen speed-walking across the floor, dashing up the stairs and pounding on their Blackberry cell phones. They have come from across the country, forming the backbone of many operations in the Xcel Energy Center and sometimes putting in 16 hours a day to keep the convention running.
ANDELIZ CASTILLO, 26
Washington, D.C.
Working more than 16 hours a day during the convention, Andeliz Castillo can be seen scooting between Republican National Committee offices in RiverCentre. Her mission: Help get diverse voices into the spotlight.
As RNC director of outreach, Castillo has a long list of Hispanic lawmakers and notables ready to promote Sen. John McCain as their candidate for president. As a Cuban-American, she said it's important for her community to be represented in the media supporting the Republican ticket.
"The Hispanic surrogates are very committed and so excited to help us," she said. "They are so enthusiastic and never refuse an interview."
AMANDA MCALISTER, 23
Atlanta
Amanda McAlister stood outside the CNN Grill Wednesday waiting with a Texas delegate for a live interview over a webcam. Minutes into the interview, the webcam connection dropped.
Improvisation is a top skill for an iReport production assistant who relies on a sometimes unreliable Internet connection, she said.
McAlister helped to develop CNN's iReport kit that allows people to be interviewed live in the field, and the TV cable network is using it to interview delegates and celebrities who stop by the restaurant across from the convention.
"We're getting some voices that wouldn't normally be heard on CNN," she said.
JOHN DENTON, 23
Amarillo, Texas
With a slew of hospitality industries trying to please delegates and visitors, John Denton is responsible for making all the services come together without being chaotic.
As part of the Republican National Convention's Operations Division, Denton works with groups such as the National Governors Association to ensure that all of the vendors serve their needs.
"One of the main problems we've encountered is the delivery process," he said. "Caterers can only deliver from midnight to 6 a.m. and it's not always easy for them."
ANDY POLESOVSKOI, 22
Washington, D.C.
The RiverCentre's "radio row" is jammed with journalists vying for the big interviews of the day. Andy Polesovskoi makes sure top politicians and celebrities are scheduled with the stations that want them.
Polesovskoi works 14-hour days booking interviews with first-term representatives, news anchors such as CBS' Katie Couric and actor Stephen Baldwin.
There have been many great guests who speak on every issue, he said. "It's been very exhausting and rewarding."
NINA VERGHES, 27
Washington, D.C.
Nina Verghes spends her days at the convention making sure delegates and candidates are taken care of during their visit to the Twin Cities.
Verghes was at the Republican convention in 2004, but said she has had much better access as a staffer. On Wednesday evening, she had the opportunity to meet and pose for a photo backstage with vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
"She was really nice," Verghes said. "She actually stopped to talk to me."
ALICIA SUBASINGHE, 27
Washington, D.C.
When delegates and guests flood the Xcel Energy Center, Alicia Subasinghe works as a traffic cop inside the building.
"We want a good flow of traffic," she said. "No traffic jams."
Subasinghe works for the Republican National Convention's Operations Division keeping visitors moving to their seats and troubleshooting problems.
"Everything is so organized that I don't have much to do," she said.
EMILY KAISER
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