Random debate scenes *

Invited debate attendees (and those who bought tickets on the free market) are filing in to the Kodak Theatre through boisterous crowds of supporters with Obama and Clinton signs (and a few obligatory Si, Se Puede's.) The O-ba-ma chanters have the vowels and syllables to win the vocal competition in the echo chamber in the Kodak entry way. 3:15
Mayor Villaraigosa sat down with Wolf Blitzer on the CNN and gave his pitch for Clinton. Asked if he senses that Obama is making inroads in the Latino community, Antonio said: "I don't." Not mentioned is that the Mexican American Political Association endorsed Obama this week. 3:25
The L.A. Times may not have figured out hyperlinks yet on its website, but the debate swag for media includes nice little retractable thumb drives with the Times logo. Also breath mints. 3:29
A ritual at big media swarms like this is the competition between news photographers to gain entry to the hall. CNN's handlers just doled out the coveted blue wristband to twenty shooters, including Monica Almeida of the NYT's Los Angeles bureau, who will get spots in the theater. The rest will be escorted in for a quick shot, then back out before the show starts. With east coast deadlines looming, Almeida will use a runner to get her images out of the theater and into the hands of an onsite editor she hired. No laptops allowed inside, unlike last night in Simi Valley. 4:20
I'm told that the Red Line subway cars are being swept by sheriff's deputies and dogs at the Vine station before proceeding to Highland. 4:30