Sisterhood at Every Step

Superdelegate Joyce Cusack, right, and her sister, Joan Lane, after Joe Biden's acceptance speech. Photo by Mark T. Osler

Florida delegate Joyce Cusack has made her way through the Democratic convention—to swanky receptions, shuttle bus rides and state delegation breakfasts—hand-in-hand with her sister Joan Lane.

It’s just like when they were kids.

But this week Cusack, 66, and Lane, 68, are holding hands to steady each other through 16-hour days that would tire much younger people.

Lane herself was a Democratic convention delegate four years ago. This year she’s in Denver as Cusack’s guest. In addition to being a state legislator and a convention delegate, Cusack is a member of the Democratic National Committee. That title earns her a guest pass, coveted even though it often leaves Lane parked in the nosebleed seats.

Sitting in a Wednesday luncheon organized by Florida’s House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber, the sisters joke about being sick of each other. But when asked how they like sharing a room and the convention experience, matching smiles light up their faces.

The hearty lunch of pasta, salad and cheesecake give them a rare opportunity to fill up during days that leave little time to eat. They did manage to squeeze in another lunch reception earlier in the week against a backdrop of giant fish tanks at Denver’s aquarium.

No matter where they go, Lane knows to find a seat and summon some patience as her more outgoing sister works the room. “She’s always been a big talker. She never meets a stranger,” says Lane.

At the Florida delegation’s daily breakfast buffets, state and national party figures speak. Without notice, Cusack’s turn came Wednesday morning. Though the second-highest ranking Democrat in the state House, Cusack was surprised and honored to be asked to speak on behalf of her candidate, Barack Obama, when the delegation began its formal presidential nomination balloting.

Cusack went straight from the podium to the head of the line of delegates, who showed their IDs and cast their votes in turn. The results would be reported Wednesday evening on the convention floor.

The sisters are staying at the Red Lion, one of the Florida delegation’s three backwater hotels. Cusack calls it a “leave-the-light-on kind of hotel,” but at least it’s convenient—if you need to go to the Home Depot next door. When it came to hotels, Florida drew the short straw. After holding its primary too early under party rules, the state party fought with the national for nine months before the decision that Florida delegates could even attend the convention. By then the good hotels had already been assigned.

So Cusack and Lane pay their $179 a night and ride shuttle buses up to an hour and 40 minutes to reach the convention downtown. Most nights they’re too pooped to party once they get back to their hotel near 11 p.m.

That wasn’t the case after they arrived Sunday and made it to a New Orleans-themed bash with spicy food and live music. “Don’t ask me the name of the band,” Cusack says. “You’ve got to remember, I’m a senior citizen and it was modern music.”

Tamara Lytle was the chief Washington correspondent for the Orlando Sentinel from 1997 to 2008.