Jon Ossoff's campaign is an impressive one. The offices are filled with young excited volunteers and staffers, chatting in rooms covered with bright posters that make you feel like you are at a summer camp arts and crafts center. Personnel are well trained to hide Ossoff's vulnerabilities—one volunteer, introducing himself to a staffer, said "I'm from California—I know, shh," putting a finger to his lips. Another bragged about how he taught his little brother, who didn't appear to be more than 14 years old, not to talk to reporters—"What is press?" the younger brother was trained to say.
On June 12 I went to my first Ossoff event at his Marietta field office. I introduced myself to his communications director, who kindly forwarded me an email the campaign had sent to its press list that cataloging his planned events for the day, which included two that, unlike the Marietta event, weren't announced publicly. She told me she would add me to list, and made a note of that plan on her phone.
Ossoff soon arrived with Rep. Dan Kildee, a Michigan Democrat in town for the event. Kildee didn't say much—he praised Ossoff's values, said that he is willing to work with anyone, "left, right, or center," and briefly mentioned Ossoff's focus on government waste and tech jobs. Ossoff said less—he said the campaign would come down to the wire, said the race wasn't about "political party," and urged his canvassers to "stay kind" and "stay humble."
Ossoff worked the room. I shook his hand and introduced myself, but he quickly directed me to one of his communications staffers. "This gentleman is from the Free Beacon," Ossoff said as he walked away. "Do you have time to talk later?" I asked. "We'll see," he said. I asked his communications director whether Ossoff would have time for that interview. She suggested I email her questions.
I then approached Kildee, who was eager to talk. As we began our discussion, Ossoff's communication director interrupted. "Hey, what's the next thing we got?" she asked Kildee, who said he needed a picture with Ossoff. "Let's get you over there," she said as she pulled him away.
As I turned my attention back towards Ossoff's discussions with volunteers, I noticed that a young man, shorter than I, was boxing me out. I attempted to go around his left, but he exhibited strong fundamentals, shifting in my direction while using his elbow to gain leverage. I went right. But he persisted.
More:
http://freebeacon.com/politics/what-its-like-to-cover-jon-ossoffs-accessible-campaign/Last full paragraph's a stinger.
