Guv will deliver big speech before Obama at Invesco
By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 12, 2008 at 9:10 a.m.
Updated August 13, 2008 at 1:23 a.m.
Photo by Javier Manzano © The Rocky
Gov. Bill Ritter speaks to journalists at the Rocky Mountain News on Tuesday. The governor admitted he'll be nervous when he speaks before Barack Obama takes the stage at Invesco Field.
John Hickenlooper will kick things off Aug. 25 when the DNC opens.
It will be the biggest speech of his career - the final night of the Democratic National Convention on the stage at Invesco Field in front of 75,000 people.
And 10 hours after finding out he would be speaking before Barack Obama takes the stage, Gov. Bill Ritter admitted Tuesday that he was nervous.
"I was a trial lawyer for a number of years, and I never even made a closing argument where I wasn't nervous about it," Ritter said. "So I can imagine I'll be nervous about this. But that's where your edge comes from."
Ritter, who had just finished talking to Tuskegee Airmen at the Blair-Caldwell Library in Denver as a part of a highway dedication ceremony, said the Obama campaign will work closely with his staff to formulate his speech.
Ritter said the conversations about his role during the convention began shortly after he endorsed Obama on the Capitol steps in June as a superdelegate.
State Sen. President Peter Groff, D-Denver, said he'll be on the floor at Invesco Field and believes Ritter can handle the pressure. "And I thought his State of the State speech was big," Groff said with laugh.
Officials with the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Convention Committee made it official Tuesday morning - Ritter would bookend the convention on the final night while Mayor John Hickenlooper would kick things off Aug. 25.
"This is a historic event for Denver, the Rocky Mountain West and our entire country, and - on behalf of the Mile High City - I am truly honored to take part," the mayor said in a statement. "Barack Obama has generated unprecedented levels of energy, optimism and engagement over the past year - so one can only imagine how exciting and inspiring the convention itself will be."
Jenny Backus, senior adviser to the Obama campaign, said Ritter and Hickenlooper were chosen to highlight the West and the gains Democrats have made in the region. There are Democratic governors in such states as Kansas, Arizona, Wyoming and, of course, Colorado.
"Mayor Hickenlooper and Governor Ritter have been huge partners for this convention," Backus said. "You have a wealth of talent out here in the West."
The DNCC also announced themes and speaker schedules for the convention's opening night in addition to Hickenlooper's kicking off the event.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Michelle Obama will speak the first night - the former to highlight what party officials called "the vanguard of the movement" of the Democratic Party. Pelosi became speaker when Democrats took control of the House and Senate in 2006.
One of the freshman senators scheduled to speak will be Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri.
Michelle Obama will be introduced by her brother, Craig Robinson. Barack Obama's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, will also have a speaking spot. Both will be commissioned to tell the life story of the presidential hopeful.
The campaign also plans to honor Sen. Ted Kennedy on the opening night.
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August 12, 2008
10:22 a.m.
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danirobi writes:
Will feature Chappaquiddick???
August 12, 2008
10:26 a.m.
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JustSayin writes:
It sure as heck won't be featuring the contributions you dittoheads and FoxSpews followers have brought to the table!
August 12, 2008
10:55 a.m.
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HopiMedicineMan writes:
LiberalSpeak is never intelligent, always venomous, ridiculous but amusing.
August 12, 2008
10:59 a.m.
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zippy66 writes:
Technically, Ms. Soetoro-Ng is Obama's half-sister...a sister from another mister, if you will.
August 12, 2008
11:54 a.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
I'm Jared Polis and I approve this message. (Or whatever.)
August 12, 2008
12:01 p.m.
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roger44 writes:
Are they going to do a major cleanup after all this baloney is spewed out? Like they do after the horses pass by in a parade.
August 12, 2008
12:05 p.m.
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jonmg111 writes:
"The Vanguard of the Movement", eh? I knew they were a bunch of commies.
August 12, 2008
12:28 p.m.
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freespeech34 writes:
Oh boy..I can't wait to hear how wonderful all the dumbacrats are! Nancy Pelosi welcoming the new democrats? Socialism by any other name is socialism! Karl Marx would be proud. Maybe Putin will stop by and give a nice endorsement for BO.
August 12, 2008
12:36 p.m.
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hlucki writes:
Where is Floyd when he's needed?
August 12, 2008
1:36 p.m.
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Mayor_Quimby writes:
I hope Ritter talks about how he only has less than 2 years of experience so wouldn't be a good choice for VP. Obama on the other hand... oh wait...
August 12, 2008
2:16 p.m.
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MrJim writes:
Pray for rain.... The only good thing F.o.t.F. has ever said.
August 12, 2008
2:32 p.m.
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DenverDan writes:
Gov
I bet they would not let you sing at the olympics.
Obama 08
August 12, 2008
2:36 p.m.
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Who_Me writes:
Ritter and Hickenlooper - now *that* would be a real Snooze-a-palooza. Wake me in September (minor reference to Green Day).
August 12, 2008
3:53 p.m.
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DemsAreDumb writes:
Sounds like a GREAT lineup but i thought the Circus was in Wichita that week. hmmm.. strange.
Bush 4 more years!
August 12, 2008
7:39 p.m.
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Mike846 writes:
Ritter said. "It's an amazing privilege and a tremendous opportunity to continue highlighting everything we're doing in Colorado and the West." Yeah, you can help him figure out how to sentence criminal illegal aliens to "Agricultural trespass" so he won't have to deport them. Or maybe how to prosecute an ICE agent for bringing that violation of your oath of office as DA to the public view. I'm sure B. Hussain will welcome THAT kind of counsel. As for Hizzoner the Mayor, he can give Obama hints about how to prevent the Buck from EVER stopping at his desk. Yeah, I agree, too, that if you have studied history and done any reading at all, some of these quotes from the Democrat power-brokers sound like they're channeling Vladimir Illych, or Uncle Joe. Wake up, Voters. The Dems are NOT your friends. Mike