POOLITZER PRIZE

Tuesday, December 2, 2008 2:37 PM

NJ.com Unveils Poolitzer Prize

By DAVID HERBERT

News organizations across the country are privy to the minutia of President-elect Barack Obama's daily life thanks to the protective pool, a rotating patchwork of reporters that follows the 44th president as he goes to the gym and the barber.

But more than just cataloging the movements of the president-elect, these dispatches often go above and beyond the call of duty with notes about the weather, Obama's clothing, snippets of conversation among bystanders and reflections on journalism, all of which can, on the best days, raise the pool report to an art form.

As such, NationalJournal.com is proud to announce the creation of the Poolitzer Prize, to be awarded semi-regularly to pool reports that achieve an extraordinarily high level of detail, prose, humor, drama and any combination thereof.

Today's winner comes from Christina Bellantoni, the White House correspondent for the Washington Times, who had the good fortune to be covering the president-elect on the day he met with the National Governors Association.

The winner of the inaugural Poolitzer, after the jump.

Pool arrived at Congress Hall in Philadelphia at 10:03 am.

As we entered historic building, former VP candidate Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska was the first person we saw. She is sitting in back row to the left side, directly behind California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

She is wearing bright red jacket and was speaking with Virgin Islands Gov. John de Jongh.

Palin waved at the pool when we walked in. She was one of 7 female governors in the room.

As your pool got in position, we noted New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is not here. Kansas Gov. Kathy Sebelius is on the aisle, just behind Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is in the front row.

Transition team has full seating chart for those interested. I'm not sure who else was missing.

The governors applauded as POTUS-elect Obama came in the room.

He started at the back row with de Jongh to shake hands over a wall, so Palin was first person he greeted. We could not hear what he said to her, and TV didn't get audio off boom mic. VPOTUS-elect Biden was right behind Obama and more energetic and loud as he greeted the governors.

"I've got to shake everybody's hand," he announced, to laughter.

Biden's greeting to WV Gov. Joe Manchin was a great big handshake and both were laughing. Both Biden and Obama hugged Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland.

"So nice to see you sir," Obama said to Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi, who later started the applause as the POTUS-elect talked about working with Republicans.

Audio picked up very little, just a few "How are you?"s and "Nice to see you"s.

But pooler caught his interaction with Jindal - Obama asked of the governor's children: "How old are they?"

Jindal: "6, 4 and 2."

"You've got three of them!" Obama exclaimed, smiling.

Obama put his hand on NJ Gov. John Corzine's elbow as he shook his hand. He gave Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm a kiss on the cheek.

One of the last governors Obama greeted was Schwarzenegger, who also got the elbow treatment, a "So nice to see you" and what sounded like "congratulations."

Either Gov. Baldacci of Maine or Gov. Beebe of Arkansas said "Hello, Mister President."

Obama also had a hearty greeting for Iowa Gov. Chet Culver.

We could hardly hear Rendell, but he said he heard TV pundits saying today he planned to beg for money and "that's definitely not what we are doing here."

He talked about wanting a permanent tax credit for renewable energy.

Biden's prepared remarks were:

"And Governor Palin, your being here today sends a powerful message that when campaigns end, we are all partners in progress. Thank you."

But here's what he said:

"And Governor Palin, I want to thank you particularly."
"I might point out, as I told you, we walked in. Since the race is over, no one pays attention to me at all. So I'm -- maybe you will walk outside with me or something later and say hello to me," prompting laughs from all, but an especially loud one from Kaine.

"It's great to see you, Governor."
"And, by the way, I think it is -- I hope, you know, the whole country can see the sort of a metaphor for the fact that this election is over and here we are," he said. "We're all together."
"We're all dealing with a common problem."

Obama kept to prepared remarks, said he never forgets that he got his start in state government, saying the governors are most in touch with nation's woes.

Obama said he was there to listen and would keep listening and "seek your counsel" in the future - "especially when we disagree."

Straying from prepared remarks, Obama said "I'm not going to allow Joe and myself to get infected with Washington-itis."

"We are not going to be hampered by ideology," he said, in section about working with GOP governors.

"Let's have a conversation," he said.

Pool was then ushered out for remainder of meeting. As we left we passed Palin again.

She was typing a note on one Blackberry and had a second Blackberry in front of her.