On the scene at the Democratic convention

There's no doubt the Democrats are the more animated party.

This morning, while bleary-eyed delegates wandered in to the Connecticut Exposition Center, collecting a bagel and a cup of coffee from Dan Malloy's campaign on the way, they had to maneuver between chanting hordes for both Malloy and Ned Lamont.

Lamont even had a drum corps with dancers. As one delegate told me, "There's something awful about hearing a loud BOOM-BOOM-BOOM after a night of drinking."

Bristol delegates, though, appeared pretty eager to get down to the business of voting.

Terry Parker, one of the delegates from the Mum City, said the cheering outside reminded him of competing crowds at a football games.

"I just want the game to begin," Parker said.

Mayra Berrios Sampson, a former city Democratic chair, said she loves "the whole process" at state conventions, where she sees lots of old friends.

Mary Rydingsward, another Bristol delegate, pictured above, said this is her first convention.

"I've got to have fun or I'm not doing it again," she said.

*******
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com