GOP plans full slate of events during DNC

Party plans full slate of events during convention

By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 20, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Colorado Republicans will remain active in the Denver area during the Democratic National Convention.

Local GOP faithful will attend an anti-Obama movie premiere Sunday afternoon on the 16th Street Mall. The film, produced by a national conservative group called Citizens United, is called Hype: The Obama Effect.

Coloradans, including Bill Owens, Dick Wadhams and Bob Beauprez, will serve as spokesmen for the national GOP and the John McCain campaign.

Grassroots organizers will continue scheduling fundraisers and events for Republican campaigns - with most of the effort focused on McCain and Bob Schaffer's bid for U.S. Senate.

Up to 300 Republican powerbrokers are expected Sunday night at Benny's restaurant in Denver. Restaurant manager Tony Garrido said the restaurant has been rented out - and will be closed to the public - from 6 to 11:30 p.m. They will serve finger food appetizers. Garrido did not disclose the group footing the bill.

Republican political consultant Katy Atkinson said the Benny's party was arranged by a private company.

"Businesses are spending so much money wining and dining Democrats, I guess they want to say we haven't forgotten you guys either," she said.

Next Wednesday, the Denver GOP is sponsoring a party at Heritage Square in Golden. The event, scheduled from 5:30 to 9 p.m., is billed as the "Republican Rock the Rockies Rally & Picnic."

The Jim Hyatt Band will perform country, bluegrass and classic rock music, according to an event flyer.

"Tired of the DNC hype? Come up the hill and Forget about Bill . . . and Hillary . . . and Obama," said the flyer trumpeting "an evening of patriotic family fun."

Mary Smith, chair of the Denver GOP, said she chose to arrange the party "so that Republicans could enjoy each other's company" during the DNC.

She said barbecue fare like hot dogs and hamburgers will be served. She expects hundreds of people to attend.

There also will be Republican house parties Thursday night for watching the Obama acceptance speech.

DNC week won't be all fun.

The grind of campaign planning will continue.

Mort Marks, a longtime Republican operative and mentor in Arapahoe County, said he'll be organizing committees of different professional groups, like doctors and lawyers, to do campaign work for McCain. Marks is the lead campaign coordinator for Arapahoe County.

Still others will escape the hype and hassle of the DNC.

Atkinson said she knows many Republicans who are leaving town.

Among them is Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, who said he'll be away fishing.

kimm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2361

What they'll be doing

Here's what prominent Republicans in Colorado are planning to do while thousands of Democrats converge on Denver for their national convention.

BILL OWENS former Colorado governor

* He's doing commentary for KUSA-Channel 9 each night during the convention. He'll serve as a spokesman for the McCain campaign and Republican National Committee and also attend GOP parties and DNC-related events.

DICK WADHAMS, state GOP party chairman

* He'll co-host a movie premiere Sunday afternoon of an anti-Obama film, attend GOP parties and will speak to the media on behalf of his party.

MARK HILLMAN, national RNC committeeman for Colorado

* He'll stay close to his farm in Burlington "awaiting the birth of our first Republican child," due Aug. 28. "I don't have any plans to be even remotely close to the convention area. . . . The headache would not be worth it. I'll be happy if I watch it from the comforts of my easy chair."

LILLY NUNEZ, national RNC committeewoman for Colorado

* She is leaving Monday with her husband for Minneapolis-St. Paul to attend Republican National Committee meetings before GOP convention opens Sept. 1. She is a member of the rules committee.

WAYNE ALLARD, U.S. senator for Colorado

* He is planning to travel to his mountain cabin in Walden to relax and fish. Congress is not in session that week. Allard is not seeking re-election. Democrat Mark Udall, and Republican Bob Schaffer are seeking Allard's Senate seat.

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