Julian Castro Is All The Buzz In Charlotte

Victor Landa, NewsTaco

There were Julian Castro sightings early in the afternoon. Some members of the San Antonio delegation saw him on his way to a workout; some elected officials had him looking relaxed, in a good mood. They all agreed that he was as ready as he could be to deliver the speech that could put him brightly on the national political radar.

I sat perched high in the media gallery. The picture below gives you my vantage point, I was closer to the security guys roaming the rafters than I was to the delegates on the floor (click on it for a better feel of my view). But still, there was a creeping energy, building as the night progressed from opening gavel to the main events. It didn’t take much to rouse these partisans, they came to the Democratic National Convention to be roused. They were given a parade of multi-ethnic, multi-interest VIP’s that warmed the crowd – black Mayors, white union leaders, women governor’s, Latino legislators, and party luminaries.

In a stroke of genius that brought the Democratic Party loyalists to a giddy, hollering crescendo they brought out an archival video of Sen. Ted Kennedy debating then senatorial candidate Mitt Romney. Given Romney’s inexperience, and given the advantages of editing, the video was all Kennedy, verbally demolishing his opponent. By the time Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick came to the podium and scolded the Democrats, telling them to grow a spine to stand-up to Republican charges, the crowd was primed, the energy rose like a froth to the press gallery, and they were ready for the keynote. It was Castro’s moment to either score or flub.

I found myself sitting at the edge of my seat. Then I turned self-consciously and saw that most of my peers in the press were doing the same. It was all expectation.

I won’t go into a blow by blow recount of the speech. Suffice it to say that he hit the marks he was supposed to hit for that crowd, for that night, for the audience watching at home. It was a well crafted speech, delivered beyond my expectations. And he did get help from the sidelines: his daughter Carina’s cameo, priming for the camera, the girlie swish of her hair, stole the show.

I’ll tell you what I heard after the speech, out in the halls and in the city among the delegates and the people present in the arena. In those conversations Castro was the buzz. Judging by what was left in the wake of the first night of the convention, Julian Castro is the newest star of the Democratic Party. The Democrats in Charlotte were electrified. Among those present, his speech and the first Lady’s speech were the highlight of the night, held in equally high regard. Everyone was talking about this young mayor from Texas.

The pundits and political writers have had their say as well, and it’s been mostly positive. The reviews have branded  Castro anywhere from a revelation to the “new Obama.” Maybe it’s novelty, maybe it’s the fact that he’s the first Latino to deliver the keynote at a national political convention. Or maybe it’s momentary hyperbole. What seems to matter here in Charlotte is the moment, and he didn’t flub it. What’s more, judging the speech, the performance and the buzz in the crowd, he was outstanding.

Of course, Republicans may have another point of view, and I’m sure they’ll soon be swiping at the young mayor. That’s the price of the newly acquired national spotlight.

Here in Charlotte, though, the buzz hasn’t diminished. Here’s an example: I was running a little late to pick up my daily credentials this morning. The police have put up concrete barriers along the sidewalks so the paths are narrow and crowded. Ahead of me I noticed a crowd, hovering around a man in a suit, taking pictures asking for autographs. The pace slowed to a halt and I fought to find elbow room through it. How inconsiderate, I thought, to stop the flow of pedestrian traffic when I need to get across the street in a hurry. But when I got to the center of the human thicket I recognized the cause of the commotion. It was Joaquin Castro, Julian’s twin brother who had introduced the mayor the night before. He was posing for snapshots and smiling for the crowd. As I passed I heard a giddy African-american woman say “that’s Julian Castro.” I didn’t stop, but I said, “no, that’s Joaquin, his twin brother” as I walked past. “That’s OK,” the lady said, “we’ll take him too.”

In case you missed it, here’s a recording of Catro’s keynote speech: