Dems reached out to West

Convention likely sparked activism in Colorado, West

By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 4, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated November 4, 2008 at 12:43 a.m.

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Even some Republicans rolled out the red carpet when the folks back East decided to look West for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

"Having the national Democratic Party come to Colorado will drive home just how far left and out of touch the national Democratic Party is with Colorado," state GOP chairman Dick Wadhams predicted in the spring of 2007.

Eighteen months later, Wadhams downplays the impact of having what amounted to the world's biggest "Hope" and "Change" rally right here in his own back yard.

But now that it's Election Day, Colorado Republicans find their once-vast voter registration advantage erased, their presidential contender trailing in the polls of this once "red" state, and Democrats with hopes of dominating contests up and down the state's ballot.

"We always felt, early on, that the pathway to the presidency was through the West, particularly Colorado - that basically has rung true," said City Councilwoman Elba Wedgeworth, one of the driving forces behind Denver's convention bid.

Today's election could answer a lingering question about who got the bigger boost from this summer's soiree, Sen Barack Obama, Colorado Democrats or neither one. But on the eve of the vote, local activists were giddy about the potential short- and long-term gains.

Nothing but blue skies

Before Obama reached Denver for the August convention, skeptics warned of a whole host of potential disasters, including funding shortfalls, labor strife and disruptive street protests. When Obama's acceptance speech was moved from the comfy, indoor Pepsi Center to the outdoor Invesco Field at Mile High stadium, some conservatives even prayed for rain.

But for the most part, Democrats got nothing but blue skies all week.

"Everything just kind of fell into place," Wedgeworth said. "Hopefully, it will fall into place for Obama, too."

Today's election results will go a long way toward deciding whether Denver boosters were on the mark with the pitch they made to get the convention. Back then, they pointed to recent Democratic gains in Colorado and neighboring states, and noted that if Sen. John Kerry had won "Colorado plus one" other state, he would have edged President Bush in 2004.

It played right into Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean's vaunted "50-state strategy," which meant not writing off places Republicans have consistently dominated.

Looking West was one of the reasons the party moved Nevada's caucuses to earlier in the primary calendar. And when Denver boosters made their case, they said it could energize the party throughout the entire region, putting Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and maybe even Montana into play.

Western strategy

Democratic consultant Mike Stratton, a longtime advocate of the Western strategy, gushed about how competitive the region has become.

"If it wasn't for Arizona being (Sen. John) McCain's home state, Democrats would have had a shot at four of the states we talked about," Stratton said. "I think it's clear there's still a very good shot at Colorado and New Mexico, and Nevada is absolutely a toss-up now."

Still, as of last week, Stratton would express only cautious optimism.

If Democrats do score big gains in this once-red state, it's really a question of "What came first, the chicken or the egg," said Pat Waak, state Democratic Party chair.

In her mind, Democrats' growing strength in the West set the stage for a strong Democratic National Convention - and not the other way around.

"Yes, it was wonderful to have the convention out here. But (the question) is: 'What's the chicken and what's the egg?' " Waak said. "I actually think the chicken is that there's something significant happening in the West with Western voters.

"You have phenomenal candidates running in the West who carry Western values, and there's an independence around them that attracts people to cross party lines."

Independent streak

Though Obama is hardly the cowboy-hat and boot-wearing Democrat who has won in Colorado in recent years, his message played well with the state's independent streak, and he helped draw record numbers to the state's presidential caucuses Â? which he won handily over Sen. Hillary Clinton.

As the August convention approached, there were so many would-be volunteers that some had to be turned away. It was quite the contrast to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where local organizers had to broadcast ads appealing to people's civic pride to bring out volunteers.

Though Obama's post-convention "bounce" took time to materialize, the Denver event cemented Colorado's status as a true battleground, meaning a steady parade of candidate visits.

Meanwhile, Obama's appeal among young and first-time voters, and his vaunted, national organization, built an army of volunteer and paid activists that Democrats have never had in Colorado.

Even state GOP chair Wadhams gives Obama credit.

"He has done for the Democrats what Ronald Reagan did (for Republicans) in the 1980s, and that is bring in a generation of young people. I cannot deny that," Wadhams said. "And that will have a lasting effect on the Democratic Party. Does that mean it will make the Democratic Party dominant? No."

To validate the promise of the "look West" approach - and to give Democrats hope of sustained success beyond one favorable election cycle - they'll have to see if Obama and down-ballot Democrats do better here than they do generally around the country.

"Certainly, I think you'll see Democrats continue to do well in the West," said Karen Finney, national communications director for the Democratic Party. "I hope that our party has learned that we can compete anywhere if we show up and ask people for their votes and make an effort."

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