VIENNA, VA. — Touting Democratic gains in Intermountain Western states, Gov. Bill Ritter challenged national party members to “link arms” and “speak with one voice” when they gather in Denver for the 2008 Democratic National Convention and the party’s nomination of its presidential candidate.
“In Denver in August in 2008, we will be ready for you and ready to nominate the next president of the United States of America,” Ritter said.
Though Ritter and his Western peers view their approach as more pragmatic in politics than their coastal counterparts, Ritter said Westerners also were forward-looking. He cited the party’s focus on the so-called New Energy Economy and the support of child health and education issues as examples.
Ritter made his remarks to more than 400 members attending the fall meeting at a suburban Washington Sheraton Hotel. The meeting will be the last time the full party convenes before Denver’s hosting of the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 25-28.
But the convention was hardly the subject of the day. With but a month to go before the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3, the sense of urgency among the throngs flooding the hall was for their candidate.
The full slate of Democratic candidates was expected to attend, and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was to speak shortly after Ritter. But Clinton did not attend because of a hostage situation at one of her New Hampshire campaign offices, according to Howard Dean, the party’s chairman. Her supporters waited in line more than an hour, munching sandwiches and readying their campaign signs, as well as adjusting all manner of “Hillary for President” stickers and buttons.
Delaware Sen. Joe Biden and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich addressed the afternoon session. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama addressed the crowd in the morning. Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel were not on the schedule.
The meeting is an important one for the candidates because of the access it gives them to the state party chairs and elected national office holders in the party — those often referred to as the super delegates. The delegates are allowed to support whichever candidate they wish, regardless of how their state primaries result. Winning such delegates early is seen as highly desirable because the endorsement could mean better support during a state’s primary.
U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver is just such a delegate. This week, she threw her support behind Rodham Clinton.
Ritter focused his brief remarks on child health care and education, saying that the government spending that it takes to fund such initiatives should be considered an “investment” in the future and quality of life of the next generation of Americans.
Colorado’s Republican Party chair, Dick Wadhams, has said he also welcomes the Democrats, and claims that having the full party, with its more liberal personalities, in Denver will give traditional Western GOP opponents a chance to underscore differences and try to make gains with unaffiliated voters.
Perhaps with such challenges in mind, Ritter concluded with an image of a unified party, linked arm-in-arm speaking with a “single voice to America.”
Chuck Plunkett: 303-954-1333 or cplunkett@denverpost.com
