Former President Bill Clinton is expected to give Colorado Democrats a big boost Friday when he headlines a fundraising event for them in Denver.
Clinton is speaking at the Colorado Convention Center during a $100-a-plate luncheon that could raise as much as $75,000 for the party.
“This is a huge deal. We’re absolutely ecstatic,” said Pat Waak, head of the state Democratic party. “I think we will see more and more public figures coming into Colorado because we’re a target state in November.”
The event is open to the public, but attendees must buy tickets through the party in advance.
Clinton will officially be in town for the groundbreaking of the memorial to those killed in the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School, but he is doing fundraisers on the side.
The former president has exhibited powerful fundraising capabilities during this mid-term election year. In just the past two weeks, for instance, he raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Democrats such as U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, Maine Gov. John Baldacci and Arizona U.S. Senate candidate Jim Pederson.
Bill Ritter, the Democrats’ candidate for Colorado governor, will be at the groundbreaking with Clinton, said his spokesman, Evan Dreyer. Ritter is also invited to a private fundraiser for Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey – also headlined by Clinton – at the home of Denver lawyer Tom Strickland.
The $500-per-person event is hosted by a number of prominent Democrats, including Sen. Ken Salazar; Congressmen John Salazar and Mark Udall; lawyers Steve Farber and Norm Brownstein; former Denver Mayor Federico Peña; Katherine Archuleta, chief operating officer for the city of Denver; Linda Alvarado, president of Alvarado Construction; and Tim Marquez, chief executive of Venoco Inc.
Those on the invite list include Denver City Attorney and chief of staff Cole Finegan and lawyer Mike Feeley.
Strickland said he was expecting about 100 people to attend.
Staff writer Karen E. Crummy can be reached at 303-820-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com.
