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Centrist Democrats to meet in Denver

Several possible presidential hopefuls to speak at gathering

Stuart Steers, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 12, 2006 at midnight

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Some of the biggest names in the Democratic party will drop into town this month for a gathering of centrist Democrats.

The Democratic Leadership Council will hold a "national conversation" July 22-24 at the Hyatt Regency Denver. Speakers will include Sens. Hillary Clinton, of New York, and Evan Bayh, of Indiana, and Govs. Janet Napolitano, of Arizona, and Bill Richardson, of New Mexico. All have been mentioned as possible candidates for president.

Many of Colorado's top Democratic politicians will attend, including Sen. Ken Salazar; Reps. Mark Udall and John Salazar; Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper; and state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff.

The theme of the annual event is "Ideas for Governing." The gathering, which is not open to the public, is intended to help public officials brainstorm new policies. More than 300 elected officials from around the country are expected to attend.

DLC leaders said they chose Denver for the meeting because they believe Democrats can make big gains in the West.

"Western states represent a region ripe with opportunity for Democrats," Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack said in a statement. Vilsack is chairman of the DLC.

The DLC first became prominent in the early 1990s, boosting Bill Clinton's campaign for president. The group has pushed Democrats to become more friendly to business, engendering a backlash from some liberal Democrats.