NEXT STOP: STAPLES CENTER

Jenna Bordelon

BURBANK -- Unlike the protester-driven ferment around Staples Center,

the area around the Burbank Airport was marked by a sense of calm and

order as Vice President Al Gore alighted on the tarmac Wednesday.

Thick smog blanketed the airport near Hanger 70 at the Mercury Air

Center. High temperatures and mariachi music added to the Southern

California spirit of the proceedings as hundreds of Democratic supporters

gathered to chant: “We want Gore.”

They were not disappointed.

Gore, who will accept his party’s nomination at the Democratic

National Convention today, and his wife, Tipper, descended the steps of

Air Force Two to meet with Gov. Gray Davis, his vice presidential

selection, Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman and other dignitaries

including actor-director Sean Penn. Earlier, Gore spoke to a pool

reporter about his readiness for the convention.

“I feel very relaxed,” he said. “Maybe I shouldn’t, but I do.”

Chief of Police Thomas Hoefel joined the Burbank Police Department’s

Special Response Team as well as the Secret Service, California Highway

Patrol and the Burbank Airport Police to watch for signs of trouble that

never materialized.

“I would say that we stand ready to deal with any eventuality,” Hoefel

said. “There are times when things are so high-profile that I just like

to be involved.”

Davis opened the event with the announcement: “Welcome to Al Gore

Country.” Loyal Democrats waved signs proclaiming “Gore is More” and

“Pediatricians Love Gore.”

Lieberman gave thanks to all and uttered the line he admitted having

wanted to say since he began campaigning: “Will you help me win this one

for the Tipper?”

The crowd roared.

Gore took the microphone to pronounce his love of California and gave

a preview of the goals he will refer to in his acceptance speech at the

convention.

He spoke of plans to raise teacher’s pay, to increase the minimum wage

and to pass a patients’ bill of rights.

With the applause increasing following each promise, Gore landed the

one-two punch of pushing through a hate-crimes law and finding ways to

take guns out of the hands of children.

Gore, who was became vice president in 1992 after serving in Congress

for 16 years, spent time reworking his speech on the plane.

“I hope that those who watch and listen will feel afterward that they

have a clearer idea of exactly what I’m proposing to do,” he said.

“They’ll also know how the ideas and proposals I’m making are rooted

in the experiences that I’ve had.”

After meeting with supporters, Gore took off for a party at Warner

Bros. Studios with the delegation from his home state of Tennessee and

the delegation from Connecticut.

Burbank resident Margaret Madrid was unable to attend the convention,

but made herself indispensable nonetheless.

She helped several cars find parking spaces around her home less than

a block from hangar.

“I am a Democrat,” she announced proudly. “I know that they were

having a hard time to try and find parking.”