A real buffet of breakfast speakers

By Trish Choate

Published August 28, 2008 at 7:57 p.m.
Updated August 28, 2008 at 8:23 p.m.

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No shows, really good shows and surprise shows were themes in this week’s delegate breakfasts.

Colorado party leaders were buzzing over which royalty might stop by their breakfasts to say hello. After all, they were hosts of the Democratic National Convention.

What's more, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean were staying at the same hotel as the delegation, the Grand Hyatt.

Former Vice President Al Gore was a rumored speaker.

Expanded security at Thursday’s breakfast even had some locals beaming about a possible Sen. Joe Biden or Michelle Obama visit.

In the end, featured speakers on three of the four days included former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, Colorado Congressman Mark Udall and Richard Trumka, an official with the AFL-CIO.

Rising star and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano stopped by the fourth day, but the air clearly had left the room for delegates expecting bigger names.

Like Colorado, Michigan is supposed to be a battleground state.

And Michigan delegates struck gold, judging by the turnout of speakers at their breakfasts at the Renaissance Flatiron Crossing. For one thing, there was Doug Dean, Democratic Party national chairman, urging delegates to get people to vote early to offset last-minute negative campaigning.

Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry’s surprise visit to California’s breakfast meeting Wednesday was a hit. Many delegates were repeating a comment during his speech about how America needs a leader who inspires rather than embarrasses them.

Breakfast speakers also favored props, ranging from the practical to the theatrical.

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin brought down the house at the Tuesday breakfast meeting of Wisconsin delegates by whipping out a pack of condoms to make a point about requiring insurance companies to pay for birth control.

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