Cheney's love of politics traces back to '64

The convention will be held Aug. 30-Sept. 2, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

"It's going to be an exciting experience," Cheney said.

This will be Cheney's first visit to a national convention, and she'll be kept busy. Her official duties will include serving on the convention's Credentials Committee.

Members of the Credentials Committee will hear any protests that a state delegation may make against a specific delegate or alternate. The idea is make sure the delegate in question has been properly elected to be a convention delegate.

"The state convention elects delegates to go to the national convention. Each step along the way, there is a credentials process to make sure everyone is duly elected, just in case there's a problem," Cheney explained.

Cheney recalled that her first involvement in presidential politics came in 1964, while she was a college student in Boulder, Colo. She supported Barry Goldwater of Arizona.

"I grew up a Republican. I was young and just beginning to get involved, and he was the one who captured my interest," she recalled. "I've been interested in politics ever since."

Cheney's time in New York won't be all politics, however. She will have time to see some of the sights and enjoy being a tourist in the famed "city that never sleeps."

"There are all sorts of specials for delegates and their families in the way of events and tourist activities," she explained. "It's a way to promote the economy in the city."

During their time in New York, Cheney and other delegates from Washington will stay at the Millennium Broadway Hotel at Times Square. They will also be treated to a complimentary performance of Phantom of the Opera, courtesy of the city of New York.

According to Cheney, one of the reasons the Republican Party decided to have the convention in New York City was to help counter the economic devastation of the Sept. 11 attacks there.

"They'll get a lot of people in town spending money, going to shows, touring, visiting museums," she said.

It's likely that Cheney will have an emotional response when she gets back to New York, because she experienced the horror of the Sept. 11 attacks first hand.

"I was in New York City on 9-11 and saw the terror and destruction," she explained. "It hit me in a personal way. I wanted to support the president on the war on terrorism, and fight terrorists over there rather than in our country. I'm also energized because 9-11 had devastating effects on the economy."

Homeland Security Department officials have issued warnings about the possibility of terrorist attacks aimed at the political party conventions this year, but Cheney said she isn't worried.

"We always have to be alert to what's going on around us, but we cannot cower to terrorists. We have to stand up and fight them," she said.

U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings (R.-Wash.), who represents the Fourth District, praised Cheney and the other delegates from the district.

"This is a great group of people who are working hard on behalf of President Bush's re-election campaign, and my re-election," Hastings said. "I am proud they will be representing the Fourth District."

Despite the fact the Republican convention is taking place in New York, polls consistently have shown that the state is considered "safe" for Sen. John Kerry, President Bush's challenger. However, Cheney said holding the party's convention in a "blue" state does not concern her.

"Those are the polls at this time. It's still early, and you never know," she said.