After Sarah Palin's traveling press corps protested a decision not to allow a pool reporter into the Governor's meetings today with world leaders, the campaign relented, and a CNN producer was on hand.

In the room for only 29 seconds with Sarah Palin and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, CNN's Peter Hamby wrote the following pool report, obtained by Politico. It's all after the jump

PALIN POOL REPORT #1



Sept. 23, 2008



New York, NY



KARZAI MEETING

NOTE: CNN producer was the only editorial member allowed in and graciously offered the play-by-play featured below.



Logistics: Your pooler was blocked by the campaign from attending the Karzai pool spray, along with other wires and print outlets. The only media representatives were a TV crew, producer and still four photographers. Several hours of pleas from different outlets were unsuccessful. Palin spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt gave this statement to the AP, Reuters and your pooler: “The decision was made for this to be a photo spray with still cameras and video cameras only.”



The decision was then reversed and your pool will be allowed in for the remaining two meetings. More on all of this below.



Now for the news:



Gov. Sarah Palin emerged from the Millennium Broadway hotel at 11:35am EST in a beige SUV headed for the InterContinental at 111 E. 48th St. Senior policy advisers Randy Scheunemann and Steve Biegun were outside the hotel waiting for her. Palin was wearing all black. No sign of Todd or the kids (your pooler did not see them, but has not confirmed they were not there).



Your pooler then ran into the hotel lobby and was restrained from boarding the crowded gold elevator, despite her shouting on behalf of the pool. The group of cameras returned via another elevator just a few moments later. When asked for an on-the-record statement, Schmitt offered up the above explanation.



***From CNN’s Peter Hamby, who was the only editorial representative allowed in:



The press pool (still and TV cameras only, plus this producer) entered into Karzai’s sizeable suite at the Intercontinental shortly after noon. One handler, who did not appear to be with the campaign but rather with Karzais’ entourage, repeatedly said “No writers,” and he tried to keep this pooler from entering the room when he saw my notebook. However, Chris Edwards, Palin’s deputy chief of staff, allowed me to pass.



Palin was seated in a large chair a few feet from Karzai, with a table in between them. From the view of the pool cameras, Palin sat on the left, and Karzai to the right.



Seated slightly behind Palin were foreign policy advisers Steve Biegun and Randy Scheunemann, who are accompanying the governor in her motorcade today.



As the pool entered, the Afghan president appeared to be telling Palin about his young son, who was born in January 2007.



Palin, her legs crossed and at one point patting her heart, was leaning in eagerly and smiling. Karzai, wearing his traditional clothes but without his trademark karakul hat, was also grinning while discussing the child. His remarks were unintelligible as the noise from the clicking cameras drowned them out.



This was the only exchange that was heard:



“What is his name?,” Palin asked.



“Mirwais,” Karzai responded. “Mirwais, which means, ‘The Light of the House.’”



“Oh nice,” Palin responded.



“He is the only one we have,” remarked Karzai.

At this point, the pool was hustled out the room and down to the hotel lobby. Pool was in the room for a grand total of 29 seconds.***



Other notes: Wallace informed your pooler after the spray that the AP, Reuters and your pooler will be allowed in the photo spray before the Uribe and Kissinger meetings. Schmitt then returned to the van and said there had been a “mix up, a miscommunication among staff” and confirmed that we would be allowed in.



Note: there will be a *background* pen-and-pad briefing after the meetings with Biegun at 3:15pm at the Millennium hotel. No word yet on whether it is pooled or open press.



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