Obama speech at Invesco would be a hit, some say
By John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 5, 2008 at 12:15 a.m.
Photo by Jonathan D. Woods / The Rocky/2007
Lightning strikes in the background as parkgoers spend time at Sloan's Lake in August 2007.
Barack Obama will face a host of logistical and security concerns, and perhaps even a challenge from Mother Nature, if he moves his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention to Invesco Field.
But the symbolism of addressing 76,000-plus supporters and reaching far beyond the confines of the Pepsi Center, which can hold 21,000, would be profound, several longtime Colorado political observers said Friday.
"His point has been to be different and advocate change and be accessible," said veteran pollster Floyd Ciruli. "The idea of moving out . . . of the Pepsi Center where everything is credentialed and secure is symbolic of a new beginning and a much more open approach."
Ciruli said the move might also take some of the edge off the planned protests by opening up the process to everyday people.
The Associated Press, citing two unnamed "people in a position to know details of the idea," said Thursday the switch is under consideration.
The Obama campaign and organizers of the convention, which will be held Aug. 25-28, would neither confirm nor deny that a change is being looked at.
Colorado State University political science professor John Straayer said moving the venue will cost more money and create security concerns. But aside from that, Straayer said, such a move would have plenty of positives for the campaign.
"You're going to get a much bigger crowd, which adds to the visibility and publicity," Straayer said. "One of the reasons for it is that you can go beyond the political elites in the Pepsi Center and have more common folks."
The fickle skies of a late summer evening shouldn't put too much of a damper on the event should rain or thunderstorms pass through the area, Straayer said.
"Even if it did rain," he said, "they'd make good jam out of spoiled strawberries."
However, Colorado GOP Chairman Dick Wadhams derided the idea of moving the event outdoors.
"Most of the work done at the Pepsi Center is done mainly for that last night. It cost the host committee millions of dollars to make the Pepsi Center ready. And now Obama might be walking away from that," he said.
Wadhams said he thought the idea that moving the convention outdoors would be somehow symbolic was "weird."
"This is not 1908, when the only people who could hear it were the ones in the hall," he said.
But Laura Vanderschaaf, a Longmont homemaker and wife of one of the Colorado Democratic delegates, said she would look forward to bringing her kids, ages 6 months and 3, to a speech at Invesco.
"I would love to hear what (Obama) has to say regarding the rest of he campaign, what he's going to do for our country, how he could lead us," she said. "I think it's great for the kids to see how our country works. I think it's such a great thing that every person can be involved."
Shannon Gilson, a spokeswoman for the national Obama campaign office, reiterated the statement she gave to reporters when news of the possible change surfaced.
"No decisions have been made," she stated in an e-mail Friday. "When we have something to announce, I will let you know."
Marc Ambinder's political blog for TheAtlantic.com reported that there would be a conference call with news network executives to discuss a possible change in venue, and the site demconwatchblog.com reported Friday that the talks had taken place.
"I don't know who their sources are," Gilson said.
Norm Early, a member of the Metropolitan Football Stadium District Board, which oversees Invesco Field, said that at the directors' most recent meeting, the idea of an Obama event "did not come up."
Other board members could not be reached for comment.
Elbra Wedgeworth, president of the Convention Host Committee, said she had not heard anything official about a change from the Pepsi Center to Invesco Field.
"We haven't got any indication that that's going to happen," she said. "I don't know anything about it or even if it's true." She declined to comment further on the idea.
"I'll speak to it when I have more information."
ensslinj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5291 M.E. Sprengelmeyer and Berny Morson contributed to this report.
August weather a mixed bag
Thunderstorms. Lightning. Microbursts. Grasshoppers.
These are a few things Barack Obama might have to contend with if he gives his Democratic presidential nomination acceptance speech under the late-summer skies Aug. 28 at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Or it might just be a typical pleasant Aug. 28, when the statistical norms call for a high of 83 degrees and an evening low of 55 degrees.
But here, culled from the records of the National Weather Service, are some extreme examples of what Colorado can be like on Aug. 28.
* In 1875, during the latter half of the month, grasshoppers started swarming through Denver on the morning of Aug. 19. Gardens were devastated and farmers lost a lot of grain to the pests. By Aug. 30, the hoppers "were so numerous as to almost darken the sun," one report read.
* In 1968, lightning hit a man who was riding a roller coaster. A bolt also injured an airline employee as he was servicing a jetliner at Stapleton International Airport. A lightning strike also ignited a fire that caused severe damage to a house in Denver and minor damage to several others.
* In 1970, a microburst at Stapleton created wind gusts of up to 53 mph.
* In 2002, a severe thunderstorm pelted Parker with three-quarter-inch hail.
* In 2004, Denver was in the midst of a two-day cold spell with a record low of 42 degrees.
* In 1908, the year that Denver first hosted the Democratic National Convention, Obama and his audience would have enjoyed a beautiful Colorado evening under starry skies. According to the Rocky of Aug. 29, 1908, the preceding day had a high of 86, cooling off to 83 by 6 p.m. and with an overnight low of 56.
'We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier'
* A move to Invesco Field: It would stir memories of the July 1960 DNC when John F. Kennedy addressed more than 80,000 supporters in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
* JFK launched a major theme at the coliseum: "Today some would say that those struggles are all over - that all the horizons have been explored - that all the battles have been won - that there is no longer an American frontier. But I trust that no one in this vast assemblage will agree with those sentiments. For the problems are not all solved and the battles are not all won - and we stand today on the edge of a New Frontier - the frontier of the 1960s - a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils - a frontier of unfulfilled hopes and threats."
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July 5, 2008
6:31 a.m.
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samsmargolis writes:
Guess Ensslin et al at the RMN will beat this horse until it dies or crosses the finish line. OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! Like, wouldn't it just be, like, a totally over the top to party at Invesco? Like, we would be, like, memory stirrer-ers and, like, maybe even theme launcher-ers and, like, who really cares about the carbon-thing that we promised...seriously? People would be, like, partying and, like, wouldn't really care 'cause the tab is on the house and...everything.
July 5, 2008
9:19 a.m.
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American100 writes:
Regarding right wing wacko's: It'll be the guy in the PU with the gun rack and the Georgia license plates.
July 5, 2008
9:46 a.m.
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Oh_Wise_One writes:
"Obama speech at Invesco would be a disaster, some say" Yes, the coronation of the Messiah, the beginning of the end.
July 5, 2008
10:37 a.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
If Obama speaks from Mile High Stadium then I'll show up with a bunch of mountain folks. After years of suffering with Bush on the box, having a candidate, and hopefully a president, who can speak clear intelligible English will be like attending a concert.
Sure, security is going to be a pain but the security people aren't the only ones who would be looking out for trouble. Anyone wants to hurt our man, he's going to be subject to the wrath of 70,000+ who would furiously disapprove.
We've endured years of being embarrassed by the congenital and intellectual inbreds put forward by the scions of eternal incompetence. These assume power only to serve themselves. Their goals are clearly aligned with those who only want to frustrate America's desire to improve and be a force for the betterment of humanity.
Now there is a candidate who is from middle America, a smart man with a modest background like most of us. Even his family lends itself as a symbol of American unity and strength.
He can help to restore good will and self respect to our nation. Let him speak to the people.
July 5, 2008
11:51 a.m.
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BMat writes:
I would be very concerned for Obama's safety at Invesco. The Broncos get slaughtered there every Sunday in the fall. It's just not safe.
July 5, 2008
1:50 p.m.
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I_Slay_The_Dragon writes:
Please, be sure, referring to ANY politician as a "messiah",
in ANY not context, is not only blasphemous, but, it also brings in
to question the VALIDITY of a supporter.
Perhaps, in both, hommage to the legendary Larry Harmon, and for
the sake of accuracy, BOZO would be much more appropriate?
Besides, CORONATIONS are reserved for Kings, Princes, and members of Royalty.
July 5, 2008
5:44 p.m.
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Jim writes:
Invesco would have the trappings of a big tent revival, Elmer Gantry style. Hope it works but security will be a nightmare and DNC is out of money. Still sounds like fun.
July 5, 2008
11:12 p.m.
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clyde writes:
A tent revival is exactly what it would be, with the handling of snakes, the fleecing of the rubes, talking in tongues, and a direct connection the the Almighty. The lemmings will swoon and faint, and proclain Hussein as the Second Coming. If this empty suit gets elected, the people will wish for the glory days of Jimmy Carter.
July 6, 2008
12:39 p.m.
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jmfslots writes:
Obama Bin Laden could probably fill Bronco Stadium. He is a "Performer" and not for real. The election of this "Christian would signal the beginning of the end for America.
July 6, 2008
3:10 p.m.
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EDIT writes:
Gee, and I bet "some say" it wouldn't be a hit. What a clever headline.