BOSTON - Some delegates and politicians at the convention are being asked to say one nice thing about Republicans -- and mean it.

A trio of Baltimore artists is videotaping their answers for a short movie, "One Nice Thing." The artists -- David Beaudouin, Julia Kim Smith and Francesca Danieli -- plan on asking the same question about Democrats to Republicans at their national convention in New York next month.

So far, the response among Democrats has been "very, very positive," Beaudouin said.

"If there is a single thread (common to the responses), it's that there's a wistfulness for those days when Republicans and Democrats could put aside those differences."

The movie, paid for by the artists, will be shown at White Box, a Manhattan art gallery, and the group is working on showing it in Baltimore. -- Mike Torralba

BOSTON -- The host committee of the Democratic National Convention planned a special party at the Children's Museum Sunday night for delegates from Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia, complete with regionally-themed decorations.

But party organizers had to scramble to remove Maryland from the map decorating the reception hall and pull the "Maryland" foam lobster claws from the tables when the state's delegates decided on a separate party to avoid crossing anticipated picket lines by Boston firefighters and police embroiled in a contract dispute.

The strike was averted by a last-minute settlement earlier in the day, but Maryland leaders decided to go ahead with their own party at the World Trade Center.

The host committee has to pay the caterer's bill for the large amount of food left over from the Children's Museum event, said event organizer Elinor Ament.

"It's a shame," Ament said, noting that the contract settlement meant the Maryland delegates would not have had to cross picket lines. "The costs can't be absorbed back."

Maryland has 110 delegates to the convention, while D.C. and Delaware have a combined 70.

At the World Trade Center, the Maryland delegates seemed unconcerned with the party snafu. Schmoozing and nibbling on roast turkey, sun-dried tomatoes and Middle Eastern dips, delegates and an entourage of friends heard from Maryland politicians intent on rallying the troops.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Baltimore, stole the show with a few martial arts moves in front of the podium and her trademark barnstorming rhetoric. "We want to hear Maryland roar like you're cheering for the [University of Maryland] Terps," she said to the packed room of delegates. "We're going to steamroll right out of here. The Chesapeake will part."

-- K Kaufmann and Kaukab J. Smith

BOSTON -- Todd Metcalfe doesn't know if he wants to be a politician. But he's learning a lot about being one.

Metcalfe, 23, of Baltimore County, is one of 62 Maryland Young Democrats, 18 to 40 years old, who will spend the next few days in Boston at the Democratic National Convention watching their political role models in action. They'll listen to Democratic strategists, network for jobs and try to secure credentials to various events throughout the week.

Melanie Miller, president of the Maryland chapter and an at-large delegate, said her main goal for the week is help the Young Democrats meet "leading Democratic strategists" who can help them find jobs.

"I want to use the connections from my father," said Miller, daughter of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Calvert. "I want to bring that to them."

Mike Miller said he's helping the group financially and linking them to other contacts. Not every Young Democrat has been granted access to the convention, but Miller wants to change that.

"I want to find a way to get them into the Fleet Center one way or another," he said.

Melanie Miller said even if some of them don't get the chance to walk around the convention floor, she is excited that some of them are fortunate enough meet their heroes.

"Some of my Dems got to take a picture with Al Sharpton," she said. "And it makes me happy to see them happy."

Brie Stoianoff, a member of the Baltimore Young Democrats, said former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's presidential campaign brought out young voters, who will now work to get them involved with Sen. John Kerry, who will be nominated at the convention this week.

"Issues like Social Security and Medicare are important," Stoianoff said. "The older generation is important, but we really need to focus on the young people and issues like education funding and child care."

The group has registered 1,300 voters in Prince George's County so far, and 1,000 of them are Democrats, another delegate said.

-- Ryan Spass

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Copyright © University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism