Burr described his recent activity on Friday, "I've spent every day since Dec. 28 chasing Romney, first in Iowa and now in New Hampshire. The days are incredibly long; Thursday, for example, turned out to be about a 22-hour day, ending when I got to my hotel room in Portsmouth, N.H., at 5:30 a.m. and then up at 11 to start working on a Sunday story and a daily update. Most days aren't as bad, but there's no eight-hour workday on the trail."

Burr said his day is divided between campaign stops and time when he can file about two stories and a few blog items, in addition to online updates. "A typical day involves several events and I do my best to transcribe audio, write up stories or do interviews between stops. In short, there's no time for video games or much fun."

Always a young man with a great sense of humor, Burr explained that he likes talking to local John and Jane Does when he gets the chance. "Every event is different, but I love the ability to talk to what we call 'real people.' So I do my best to chat it up a few people at every stop, even if it's to ask them what town I'm in at the moment."

And, while he is bouncing along on the bus, Burr keeps readers in mind:

"I've done a lot of research into what I'm covering and usually talk to a lot of experts while working on a story. I've been covering the 2008 race off and on for more than a year now, so that helps.

"No one can know everything, but at least I can come into a situation with a semblance of understanding about what's going on. That said, I've learned not to be afraid to ask the dumb questions because I'd rather appear ignorant to one person than to our thousands of readers."

For those of you who wonder if Romney has set campaign speeches, Burr explains:

"I'm guessing I could probably give the Romney stump speech by now, complete with all the jokes. Romney has a standard address for every group, tailored a bit by the situation. It's always fun to see my reporter colleagues perk up when Romney strays off script, something he rarely does."

That comment proves that presidential campaigns have not changed much since the 1980s when Timothy Crouse wrote The Boys on the Bus about following a presidential campaign.

Burr deals with Romney's handlers all day long; usually it goes well:

"Romney has a well-run press shop, and his handlers so far have treated us all very well. They understand it's a hectic schedule and try to ensure that we have space to file, access to Internet and a line of sight to the candidate, in addition to some type of food for sustenance."

And, sometimes Burr gets to rub elbows with reporters from the larger news-gathering operations:

"There's not much of a hierarchy in this group of reporters. We all have jobs to do and everyone respects that. I've sat next to scribes from the New York Times, L.A. Times, Newsweek, etc., and everyone seems to get along well. The only time I've seen any difference in treatment is on planes, where press handlers assign us seats based on size of circulation." That means Burr could be sitting near the restroom.

But despite the pressures and inconveniences, the graduate of Snow College and Southern Utah University thrives on the campaign trail:

"Movies always seem to show life as a reporter on the trail as some glamorous adventure, but I'm realizing this is likely the hardest I've ever worked in my career. You're living out of a suitcase, washing clothes when you get the chance, constantly on the go and, all the while, still trying to confidently and accurately report on the actions of a candidate and the dynamics of a political race. "I'm writing this from the back of a bus en route to Concord, N.H., along a bumpy country road, for example, and I'm not sure when I might find dinner."

"But yet, I wouldn't trade it for anything."

You readers are well served by this young man.

---

* The Reader Advocate's phone number is 801-257-8782. Write to the Reader Advocate, The Salt Lake Tribune, 90 S. 400 West, Suite 700, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101. reader.advocate@sltrib.com.