THERE’S A CONVENTION?

As the buzz of a low-flying helicopter threatened to drown out her words, Kristi Webster,19, of New Jersey, described her fear of coming into Manhattan during convention week – and her relief at finding relative tranquility east of the Hudson.

“It doesn’t seem that bad,” Ms. Webster said yesterday at City Hall Park. Nodding at a crush of police officers, and shouting to be heard, she added: “I guess if you’re a New Yorker, it doesn’t bother you.”

Indeed, when asked how they are faring during convention week, some New Yorkers interviewed yesterday answered with a question of their own: What convention?

“I haven’t noticed a thing,” said Eddie, a 26-year old who works near Union Square and refused to give his last name for fear of being bombarded with phone calls. “There are a lot of people wearing anti-Bush t-shirts, but that’s normal around here.”

Those enjoying the empty lawns of Central Park seemed even further removed from the anarchist mobs and gun-toting policemen depicted on the nightly news.

“We thought the convention was going to be a nightmare, but it’s actually kind of nice,” said Stacey Frost, 31, an Upper West Side mom. Marjolein Vastenhouw, a former New Yorker who now lives in Amsterdam, credited the convention – and the general exodus it evoked among hipsters – for the ease with which she was able to secure a lunch reservation in Nolita on Monday.

“It’s nice to be back,” Ms. Vastenhouw said. “It’s a little less hectic.” Even those incensed by a Republican convention in a Democratic town seemed to be content enjoying an emptier, quieter city on the sidelines.

“They should have done it where Bush is more popular, like Texas,” said Jimmy Donaldson, a 24-year-old elevator repairman.

But don’t expect to see Mr. Donaldson at a protest – “I don’t really know much about politics” – or even following convention highlights. “I work all day. I don’t want to go home and see Bush giving a speech,” he said.

– Melissa Radler

FROM THE PLATFORM:

“I had planned to give a moving defense of the conservative principles of the Republican Party tonight. But there was only one problem – Barak Obama gave it last month at the Democratic Convention.”

– Michael Steel, Maryland’s lieutenant governor.

FROM THE PLATFORM:

“This is like winning an Oscar!…As if I would know! Speaking of acting, one of my movies was called ‘True Lies.’ It’s what the Democrats should have called their convention.”

– Governor Schwarzenegger

FROM THE PLATFORM:

“For all those times your parents embarrassed you when you were growing up, well, this is payback…on LIVE TV!”

– Jenna Bush

A TALE OF TWO DELEGATIONS

As representatives of the host state, New York’s delegates to the Republican National Convention are enjoying a few perks. Front-row seats on the floor of Madison Square Garden, for example.

But breakfasting with Alist party leaders does not seem to be among them. The headliner at yesterday’s delegation breakfast was the Republican National Chairman, Ed Gillespie. Fair enough. After that, however, it was the lieutenant governor of New York, Mary Donohue.

On Monday, Governor Pataki stopped by – but who in the room hadn’t heard him speak many times before? He was followed by the chairman of the state GOP, Alexander “Sandy” Treadwell, and the upstate assemblyman running a decidedly uphill campaign against Senator Schumer, Howard Mills.

Contrast those luminaries with the line-up that visited the New Hampshire delegation yesterday at InterContinental The Barclay hotel. It began with Mr. Pataki, who would be something of a novelty for Granite Staters. The next man through the door was President Bush’s top adviser on economic policy, Stephen Friedman. The political director of the Bush-Cheney ’04 campaign, Terry Nelson, gave delegates the latest poll numbers. Batting clean-up was Senate Majority Leader Frist.

The explanation for this unequal treatment lies in the peculiar politics of presidential elections. Senator Kerry is leading by such a wide margin in New York that the Republican Party has essentially written off its 31 votes in the electoral college. But New Hampshire’s four votes are considered up for grabs, giving both parties a reason to shower the state with money and attention.

“You are a battleground state,” Dr. Frist told the delegates, as if they didn’t know. “It’s a state that absolutely must be captured, and it’s up to you.”

A spokeswoman for the New York GOP, Karin Kennett, said her delegates do not feel they are getting short shrift. The state party planned low-key breakfasts, she said, because it is hosting so many late-night parties, including a raucous bash at Cipriani’s Monday night and an affair at Noche last night.

Who will nurse their hangovers this morning? President Bush’s sister, Doro Bush Koch, Governor Pataki, and the majority leader of the state Senate, Joseph Bruno.

– William F. Hammond Jr.

FROM THE PLATFORM:

“To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: ‘Don’t be economic girlie men!'”

– Governor Schwarzenegger

POKER ANYONE?

Alex von Rosenberg, the creator of the Bush deck of cards, a regular playing deck with a Bush administration theme, has taken to selling the deck standing outside the various parties going on this week. He explained that each suit represents a different pillar of the party: hearts for compassionate conservatism, diamonds for steady leadership, spades for a strong economy, and clubs for keeping america safe and secure. The queen is always the first lady. The jokers are Senators Kerry and Kennedy. Some of the places he was staking out included Morton’s and the Four Seasons.

– A.L. Gordon

FROM THE PLATFORM:

“(Former first lady Barbara Bush) thinks sex in the city is something married people do, but never talk about.” – Jenna Bush

FROM THE PLATFORM:

“You know, on the way up here to the podium, a gentleman came up to me and said, ‘Governor, you are as good a politician as you were an actor.’ What a cheap shot.”

– Governor Schwarzenegger