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Obama's convention planner talks Invesco, speeches, theme

By Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 18, 2008 at 11:50 p.m.

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Jenny Backus

Jenny Backus

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Jenny Backus arrived in Denver one day after Democrats announced Barack Obama would accept his party's nomination for president at Invesco Field at Mile High.

A senior adviser to the Obama campaign, Backus is in town to help plan the Democratic National Convention, including that historic speech.

She sat down with the Rocky this week, where she gave a few hints of what to expect as plans come together.

On the decision to move to Invesco:

"It was a quick decision . . . but it was the right decision," Backus said. "I think it sends a neat message to people that this is their convention. Just as Barack Obama has redefined what a traditional campaign is, he's now redefining what a convention is."

On themes for the convention:

Obama wants to build on Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean's vision of "bringing down the walls" of the convention.

That was one big reason for moving the acceptance speech to Invesco, where more people could attend.

"The story of this convention is the story of this campaign," Backus said. "Barack Obama is a great messenger but he himself said that it's not him, it's the millions of people who brought him here. And we're going to be looking for ways to highlight those people."

On the lineup of speakers:

That's usually announced about two weeks before the convention, so it's still early. Ditto for entertainment.

On that other Obama convention speech, in 2004, that introduced him to the nation:

"No one more than Barack Obama understands how important it is to deliver a convention speech well," Backus said. "He wouldn't be where he is if he didn't know how to deliver convention speeches."

On the historic significance:

The speech will be given on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, by the first African-American ever to receive a major party's nomination for president.

The precedent of taking the speech to a large public venue dates back to John F. Kennedy.

"All of a sudden, it's a hotter ticket than (Bruce) Springsteen," Backus said.

Sara Burnett