CNN hits the floor running

The Democratic National Convention begins Monday, and for the first time CNN will not have its customary skybox view. The all-news channel wants its anchors on the floor of Boston’s Fleet Center, surrounded by delegates from Michigan, Arizona and Arkansas. Kind of like the late Harry Caray calling Cubs games from the bleachers, only without the beer.

In a link-up with TV critics last week, Wolf Blitzer demonstrated the custom-molded earpieces that he, Judy Woodruff and the other CNNers will wear.

“These are the same kind of earpieces that Britney Spears or rock singers have,” enthused Blitzer. “They cut out 90-plus percent of all the sound.”

Blitzer referred to the conventions as “an exciting moment,” a turn of phrase that the critics immediately pounced on. “Look,” he said, “It’s not every day that you have the kind of access to the top political leadership from all 50 states and all the territories right here.”

Just in case the excitement flags for one or two minutes, however, CNN can cover the people covering the convention. As we learned later that day, cartoonist Garry Trudeau and director Robert Altman will be there to shoot scenes for their “Tanner ’88” sequel on Sundance Channel. According to Trudeau, at least 40 documentary filmmakers have been credentialed for Boston. They include HBO darling Alexandra Pelosi, who’s finishing her sequel to “Journeys with George.”

Then there are the blogs. CNN’s Jeff Greenfield will be covering the Internet correspondents stationed inside the Fleet Center. Their running commentaries on the day’s political news are read by literally hundreds of people, most of them other bloggers.

“Jeff is into the blogs all day every day,” CNN Washington bureau chief David Bohrman told me later. “It’s almost like peeking into another dimension. I really want to lift the curtain on this.”

Besides CNN, Fox and MSNBC will have continuous convention coverage all week. So will C-SPAN, my preferred channel for its lack of on-air buttinskis.

Jim Lehrer will preside over four hours of nightly convention coverage starting with his “NewsHour” on PBS. ABC, CBS and NBC will cut in at 10 p.m. to cover the night’s main event.

If you’ve read this far, however, you probably couldn’t care less what the networks are doing.