McCain's Results Party At Biltmore In Phoenix

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TED ROBBINS: I'm Ted Robbins at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. This is where the McCain campaign will hold its election night event, roughly 3,000 invited guests and media. The lush Frank Lloyd Wright inspired resort was built 79 years ago, and General Manager Andrew Stegen says it's been a favorite of presidents ever since.

Mr. ANDREW STEGEN (General Manager, Biltmore Resort): Every president since Hoover who is president at that time has slept here. And we're hoping that will continue with the next presidency.

ROBBINS: The McCains have history here too. Julia Thorn is head of the Biltmore's marketing and communications. She took us on a tour, since the events are spread out over much of the resort's 39 acres.

Ms. JULIA THORN (Director of Marketing Communications, Biltmore Resort): This is the Aztec room. This is where Cindy and John McCain held their wedding reception.

ROBBINS: A gorgeous circular ballroom with a gold-leaf ceiling. That was in 1980. Tonight, it and other small ballrooms here will hold McCain VIP parties. The big ballrooms, well, one's been turned into a huge set for TV, big stage, dozens of cameras.

(Soundbite of drilling)

ROBBINS: But the main event, John McCain's acceptance or concession speech, that's scheduled to be delivered on the Biltmore's main lawn. Workers erected lighting towers and a stage outside.

Ms. THORN: And the media all have places - will have assigned places around the terrace here.

ROBBINS: The Biltmore is known for its privacy and discretion. So Julia Thorn says employees were asked not to talk to the media. In fact, they were even asked not to talk politics with each other.

Ms. THORN: Because a lot of people are very passionate about their beliefs, and it's just best that we not get into that in the workplace.

ROBBINS: You can still tell folks are pretty excited around here. They want things to go perfectly, win or lose. General Manager Andrew Stegen's biggest worry: guessing how much champagne to order. A loss, not so much.

Mr. STEGEN: But if it's a victory, I think there will be probably a lot more champagne flowing.

ROBBINS: Of course, if McCain loses, the Biltmore may need to have more whiskey on hand. Ted Robbins, NPR News, Phoenix.

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