LIVE from Austin: A peek at Netroots Nation....

I'm sitting in the back of a small conference room at the Working Outside of the Box panel--which includes Darcy Burner - who essentially owns this place. Darcy's cachet at this event cannot be overestimated. She's deeply beloved among this group.

The discussion of the panel (which also includes Dean Nielsen, David Goldstein, Blair Butterworth and Matt Stoller) is largely focused on the influence of the Netroots among political campaigns, specifically for the U.S. House.

So far for me, the convention here in Austin has been fascinating. The dynamic between the candidates, issue campaigns, staffers and bloggers is quite the thing to watch. As someone who spends a fair amount of time observing humanity - is as much a theatrical experience as it is a hands-on networking opportunity.

Jeff Merkley was here on Thursday and Friday, making quite a splash. I loved seeing him here among those I think of as my own - embracing them and encouraging them, listening to their concerns and ideas. Jeff has grown so much as a candidate and as a speaker. I am so proud of him.

The quality of speakers here for the panels and other discussions is very good. And the social time is wonderful. I wish that it was a little easier to talk to some of the more influential national bloggers. Many of them are swarmed.

But some of them are also a seemingly a little put-off by the attention and the efforts to speak with them.

There'll be more to talk about later...but I'm going to sit and listen to the panel...