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Focusing on the West
DENVER — As New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson strode up to the podium on the 50 yard line of Invesco Field, he was but the last of a half dozen western leaders who spoke to the more than 75,000 gathered there today.
“Are you ready to take our country back?” Richardson asked to thunderous applause.
Indeed, if one thing has been clear this week, it’s that western leaders are on the rise in the Democratic Party. From Montana to New Mexico, Colorado to Nevada, leaders of these states all have been on prominent display during the week’s activities.
In the words of Congressman Mark Udall, D-Colo., addressing the crowd: “Here at the foot of the great Rocky Mountains we have found leaders to match our mountains.”
The West and its leaders have had a moment in the sun. Only time will tell if voters here continue to want to be a part of the Democratic Party’s future.
*Richardson photo from the Associated Press.
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Buescher enjoys deft speakers
DENVER — While milling about Invesco Field, awaiting speeches by Colorado’s congressional delegates and Gov. Bill Ritter, we happened into state Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction.
Buescher, who has been at the Democratic National Convention since Wednesday, said he has enjoyed watching and listening to the speakers at the event.
He cited the strength of the oratory of former President Bill Clinton and 2004 presidential nominee John Kerry as two of Wednesday’s best speakers.
“This is fun,” Buescher said.
*Buescher photo shot by Political Notebook.
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DNC to feature Olympic ‘gold’
DENVER — While preparing for the evening’s festivities, we spied — amid the musician and politico sound checks — one American gold “medalist warming up” on the Democratic National Convention stage at Invesco Field.
Indeed, there on the mile-high scoreboard was the smiling Olympian Shawn Johnson. She proceeded to stretch out her right hand during a dry run of the national anthem.
We gave her a high score for sticking her landing while dismounting the stage.
* * *
UPDATE: The above pic, from the Associated Press, is much sharper. It also has former Vice President Al Gore sharing a moment with Johnson. Enjoy.
*Johnson photos shot by Political Notebook and the Associated Press.
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Almost ready for prime time
DENVER — Thousands of volunteers, reporters, photographers and techs are prepping Invesco Field for tonight’s speeches by Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and a slew of other politicians and performers.
The field is not chaotic yet, with the gates not formally opening to the public until 1 p.m., but it’s close.
Here is a copy of tonight’s schedule, according to the Democratic National Convention’s Web site.
Gov. Bill Ritter, Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Congressman John Salazar and Congresswoman Diana DeGette are expected to speak sometime between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Congressman Mark Udall is expected to speak between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
You can watch their unfiltered remarks on C-SPAN.
*Invesco Field photo shot by Political Notebook.
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Mayor: Denver, Colorado win
DENVER — Mayor John Hickenlooper said the Democratic National Convention has largely been a success for the city, state and region. He said more than a few convention-goers might be tempted to become Coloradans.
“I think this is going to be good for Grand Junction and Colorado Springs and Durango,” Hickenlooper said. “We view this as a Rocky Mountain convention.”
Key to the city and region’s solid image throughout the convention, Hickenlooper told Political Notebook yesterday, has been the fact that essentially no protests have broken out into riots or other massive fights. (In all fairness, there was one police-protester confrontation Monday that resulted in about 100 people being arrested.)
Hickenlooper said the large police presence throughout the city has showed protesters that they plan on keeping order while allowing groups to have their say.
*Hickenlooper photo from the Associated Press.
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Salazar to focus on ‘rural America’ in his convention speech
DENVER — Congressman John Salazar, D-Colo., will address the nation as part of a list of Colorado speakers at the Democratic National Convention’s closing night ceremonies at Invesco Field.
Salazar, whose district includes most of the Western Slope, will focus on rural values, according to his spokesman, Eric Wortman.
“He wants to talk about rural America and its importance,” he said.
Wortman said the speech is a work in progress, but that broad theme should remain after all of the editing is done.
Salazar, who is scheduled to speak around 4:50 p.m., will preceed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama’s nomination speech.
Congressman Mark Udall, D-Colo., and Gov. Bill Ritter also are expected to address the more than 70,000 people who will attend Obama’s speech.
*Salazar photo shot by Political Notebook.
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Obama girl heats up DNC
DENVER — As if it weren’t hot enough at the Democratic National Convention for a reporter in a black suit, we happened upon the one and only Obama girl, Amber Lee Ettinger, outside the Pepsi Center.
One of the Lakewood police officers standing behind the semi-celebrity joked with Ettinger that they were used to the attention.
*Obama girl photo shot by Political Notebook.
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Schaffer camp releases survey showing him, Udall tied
DENVER — A pollster commissioned by Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer and the National Republican Senatorial Committee has fired back at several recent polls showing Democratic Congressman Mark Udall leading in their electoral contest.
In a memo released today, pollster David Hill rolled out results from an Aug. 23 to Aug. 24 telephone survey of 553 likely voters showing the two candidate statistically tied: “The ballot results are very similar to those recorded in our previous, March-April poll. Currently, Mark Udall leads Bob Schaffer by a small 3-point margin, 41 percent to 38 percent. Three “third-party candidates” garnered a combined 9 percent and the remaining 12 percent were undecided or refused to state a preference.”
The poll has a margin of error of 4.2 percent, according to the memo.
The memo, posted here, moved Schaffer spokeswoman Kelly Brady to write in an e-mail: “The Colorado U.S. Senate race is essentially in a dead heat.”
Yes, this race has been up and down for Udall. According to data compiled by Pollster.com, Udall has been statistically tied in polls in surveys from late 2007 on. That said, seven of the last eight polls released have showed Udall up over Schaffer (the Hill/NRSC poll aside).
*Schaffer photo from The Rocky Mountain News.
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Schumer: Senate Dems will not rubber stamp Obama agenda
DENVER — New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said Colorado and New Mexico voters concerned about a rubber-stamp Senate need not be concerned as they vote in their states’ respective Senate contests.
“Every one of these candidates has exhibited independence,” Schumer said in response to a question from Political Notebook. “No one is just going to do something because President (Barack) Obama asks them to. And on issue after issues these candidates have differed with Obama on certain views.”
Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Mark Udall’s opponent, Republican Bob Schaffer, told The Daily Sentinel editorial board last week that single-party rule in Washington is one of the things giving him strength among voters that might not otherwise support him.
*Schumer, Udall photo shot by Political Notebook.
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Ritter focuses on common concerns of Hispanics, all voters
DENVER — Gov. Bill Ritter, in his comments today to a gathering of the Democratic Party’s Hispanic Caucus, focused on the common concerns of the public and the Hispanic community.
He said he does not view Hispanics as a unified bloc at the polls but rather as a group of Americans concerns about problems facing the country as a whole.
Ritter said, for example, that all Americans agree that health care and poverty are two areas that the country needs to work harder to confront.
Ritter also took the time to emphasize, in his comments before the Hispanic Caucus, that supporters of Hillary Clinton need to get behind Barack Obama.
*Ritter photo from the Associated Press.
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‘A way to launch a reinvigorated political movement’
DENVER — Former Denver Mayor Federico Pena said this Tuesday afternoon that the Democratic National Convention will boost Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s campaign and give him a bounce in western polls.
“We will be able to use this as a way to launch a reinvigorated political movement,” Pena told Political Notebook outside the Colorado Convention Center.
Pena predicted that the convention also will give Obama a boost in his Colorado poll numbers and survey results in other western states after Thursday, when he delivers a speech before thousands at Invesco Field and millions watching from home.
Democrats probably are hoping Pena’s predictions will come true: Polls have showed Obama’s opponent, Republican Sen. John McCain, narrowing the Illinois senator’s lead in Colorado. The two pols also are running close to each other in polls in New Mexico and Nevada.
*Pena photo from the Associated Press.
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NBA superstar wows Dems
DENVER — Most attendees of the Democratic National Convention probably routinely tune their TVs to C-SPAN, but one convention guest showed that ESPN reigns supreme.
The largest draw outside tonight’s festivities was no senator. He was no governor. He was a basketball star: Charles Barkley.
When Barkley walked by, swamped by fans outside the Pepsi Center, one man remarked, “Even the cops are excited.”
*Barkley photo shot by Political Notebook.
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Giuliani reports a ‘very good reception’ at Dem gathering
DENVER — One-time Republican presidential hopeful and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said he received a “very good reception” at the Democratic National Convention.
Giuliani, who strolled outside the Pepsi Center late this evening, said he has been well received during his time in town, primarily acting as a pundit.
“I got a very good reception in there,” Giuliani said. “They should let me introduce my senator.”
Unfortunately for Giuliani, Democrats plan on letting Democrats, including Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, introduce New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Giuliani’s quip came but second after the above pundit, James Carville, asked how “they” were treating him in there.
*Giuliani, Carville photos shot by Political Notebook.
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Colorado GOP highlights its HD55 candidate on the party’s Web site
DENVER — Republican House District 55 candidate Laura Bradford got something of an electronic bump this week from her colleagues at the Colorado Republican Party.
The state party linked to a profile on the Collbran resident off its Web site. The bio praises Bradford’s political philosophy: “Utilizing the strong conservative values she shares with many of you, she will begin to restore some conservative sense to the Colorado Legislature.”
Yes, this probably is helpful for the first-time candidate, primarily to get Colorado Republicans to consider sending her a donation. (She lags far behind her opponent, state Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, in the fundraising race.) Indeed, preaching to the choir probably will not buy you name recognition — but the money the choir sends you could help in that regard.
That said, Bradford has to hope that the state party or conservative 527 committees start pushing her name in the broadcast media. That, more than an Internet feature, could turn some heads in Mesa County’s only Democrat-held state seat.
Perhaps as a caveat, this online ad could help unify moderate and conservative Republicans behind Bradford — provided they make their way to the Colorado GOP’s Web site. As a more learned man than Political Notebook told us this evening: Making Republicans comfortable with voting Republican is crucial to Bradford’s success. This online feature could help in that regard.
*Bradford photo from The Daily Sentinel archives.
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Richardson on Obama: ‘He needs to campaign more in the West’
DENVER — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to win the West, he needs to start investing more time and resources in the region.
“Look, Obama is going to be strong in the West with Hispanics,” Richardson said. “He needs to visit more. He needs to campaign more in the West. They need to put more resources in the West … more staff, more offices.”
Asked by Political Notebook if Obama’s selection of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden will help or hurt him with Hispanic voters in the West, Richardson laughed.
“I could have given you a better scenario to get that vote,” Richardson said.
*Richardson photo shot by Political Notebook.
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Pelosi on Obama’s first 100 days, his energy policy
DENVER — Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told a breakfast event that the 100 days of a Barack Obama administration would foster in “a different spirit” in Washington, according The Denver Post.
Pelosi said Obama would push for bill to “expand the state Children’s Health Insurance Program, fund stem cell research and implement tax credits for renewable energy,” according to the article.
These comments preceded her appearance at Union Station, where she said Obama would work to implement renewable energy legislation that would help the United States over the long term.
“The fact of the matter is that we are here because we see this energy issue as a national security and economic issue,” she said.
Pelosi said she and Obama both see making the country energy independent a “moral” issue: “Our national security depends on it.”
“Put everything on the table,” she said.
*Pelosi photo shot by Political Notebook.
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Perlmutter: Oil shale to come, eventually and conditionally
DENVER — Congressman Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., told reporters today that oil shale should be part of the United States’ energy policy looking into the future.
Perlmutter cautioned, however, that oil shale should only come on the table if and when the shale oil can be extracted in an “environmental fashion.”
The congressman’s comments came after he and other U.S. House leaders spoke to reporters about the future of U.S. energy policy.
*Perlmutter photo shot by Political Notebook.
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New McCain ad underlines Clinton comments, 3 a.m. angle
DENVER — As the Democratic National Convention lumbers on in Colorado’s capital, Republican Sen. John McCain’s camp has seized upon divisions within the Democratic Party, between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton’s camps, and released the following ad:
Most political commentators could have seen this ad coming. However, if Clinton delegates cannot be brought into the Obama fold, this sort of advertising could be effective in salting their sores as November approaches.
*Obama mural photo from the Associated Press.
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Salazar glad Edwards will not address national convention
DENVER — In case you missed it, U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., told my colleagues at PolitickerCO (and other reporters) that he is glad former presidential candidate John Edwards will not be speaking at the Democratic National Convention.
“(Edwards’ affair) was wrong and from my point of view, as one of the hosts of the convention, I’m glad he’s not here,” Salazar said.
*Salazar photo from the Associated Press.
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Keller: No robo-call bill in ‘09
DENVER — State Sen. Moe Keller, D-Wheat Ridge, confirmed today that she will not be carrying a revamped version of her and Rep. Bernie Buescher’s robo-call-ban bill next year.
Keller, who was walking around the Pepsi Center today, told Political Notebook that she wants more accountability and transparency in the robo-call universe but is unsure exactly how to do that.
“I believe in accountability … but it’s easier said than done,” she said, citing First Amendment restrictions on combating the automated phone calls.
As a result, the second-term senator said she will not make another pass at the issue next year.
The Keller-Buescher ban died in February the same day as a bill backed by Attorney General John Suthers, who has told us he would like to make another pass at the issue in 2009.
*Phone photo from the Associated Press.
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Western pols bet on a continuing ‘political realignment’
DENVER — Two of the Rocky Mountain West’s better known “New Democrats,” Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, told an audience of reporters that they think western states will continue to trend blue this year.
“These states are in the midst of a … political realignment,” Napolitano said.
She pointed to the fact that Democrats hold the governor’s mansion in Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona — not to mention the fact that polls show the region somewhat in play in the presidential race.
Salazar — as he has many times this month — said western voters in Colorado and elsewhere have rewarded pragmatic politicos and will continue doing so for the foreseeable future.
He cited the fact that between 1998 and 2008, Democrats have captured most of Colorado’s congressional seats, taken majorities in the state House and Senate, taken over a U.S. Senate seat and now control the governor’s mansion.
“I think we’ll continue to be successful,” Salazar said.
What do you think?
*Napolitano photo shot by Political Notebook.
Latest comments
If nothing else, Mike, that was worth being at the convention for. Nice pic.
If you happen accross Gov. Ritter, ask him if he’s going to bring up the following in his speech tomorrow night:
Raising property taxes in CO without
... read the full comment by Niiice | Comment on Obama girl heats up DNC Read Obama girl heats up DNC
Once a do-nothing Congress, always a do-nothing Congress, I guess.
... read the full comment by rockman | Comment on Schumer: Senate Dems will not rubber stamp Obama agenda Read Schumer: Senate Dems will not rubber stamp Obama agenda
As I testified at the US. Senate these calls are an epidemic and are invading the privacy of All American Voters.
Our members are taking a stand and saying enough is enough at the National Political Do Not Contact Registry at StopPoliticalCalls.org.
... read the full comment by Shaun Dakin | Comment on Keller: No robo-call bill in '09 Read Keller: No robo-call bill in '09
Ben, from the April 7, 2008 Denver Post: “He (Schaffer) pointed to the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. protectorate that imports tens of thousands of foreign textile workers, as a successful model for a guest-worker program that could be adapted
... read the full comment by rockman | Comment on Poll: Udall leading Schaffer Read Poll: Udall leading Schaffer