Denver makes big push for 2008 Democratic National Convention

Posted at 4:57 PM on August 7, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Roll Call (subscription required) is reporting that Colorado Democrats are telling the DNC that the Democrats need the region to win.

"If Democrats have any chance at winning back (a) the House and (b) the White House, we're going to need a Western-focused strategy," said Lisa Cohen, chief of staff for Rep. Diana DeGette (Colo.). "That's been one of our main selling points."

In the 2004 elections, Colorado Democrats not only picked up a House and a Senate seat, they also unexpectedly won majorities in the state House and state Senate - all despite a Republican advantage in registered voters and a victory for President Bush in the presidential race.

"For two elections, Western and Southwestern voters have turned their states into shades of purple," said Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.). "If you consider voter attitudes and the changing demographics in the region, these states will be permanent battleground states in presidential elections. With Denver as the site of the 2008 Democratic convention, it will give us an opportunity to showcase a region where Democrats are running winning campaigns with independent leaders who understand average Americans and who have common-sense solutions to the challenges we face as a nation."

To a somewhat lesser extent, Members who represent Minneapolis/St. Paul also are pushing the site's regional importance to the party, but not quite as aggressively as Denver is, at least at this stage of the process.

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories