Leading a chant of “Yes, We Can,” former Denver Mayor Federico Peña called for help in the state’s upcoming Feb. 5 caucuses from more than 500 supporters Thursday night as the Barack Obama campaign escalated its operation in Colorado.
Peña, Obama’s national campaign co-chairman, was flanked by former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart.
“Barack Obama, single-handedly, is going to end race as a factor in American politics,” Hart said. “Barack Obama is going to represent a new generation of leadership that this country desperately needs.”
Obama supporters of all ages, but mostly younger voters, were crammed into 937 Santa Fe Drive, one of the campaign’s six new offices. The word “hope” was painted in large red, white and blue letters across the windows, and paintings of Obama were hung along with a rendering of Martin Luther King Jr.
The state’s Obama campaign is also opening new offices in Englewood, Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and Pueblo.
“There was a lot of momentum around the Obama campaign here in Colorado even before Iowa,” said Crisanta Duran, president of Colorado Young Democrats. “I think Iowa just reassured people and re-energized them into believing that Barack Obama can be president of the United States.”
In addition to the youthful turnout, another thing that stuck out was the sheer number of people at Obama’s event who planned to participate in their first caucuses and volunteer for the first time in a campaign.
“I’m so motivated by this guy,” said Ryan Benjamin, 39, a salesman from Denver.
Meanwhile, Colorado’s campaign for Hillary Rodham Clinton, the only other Democratic candidate with offices in the state, remains strong.
“I think they’re trying to beef up their operation because right now from the numbers I’m looking at we’re leading here in Colorado,” Clinton’s state director, Tyler Chafee, said. There are no poll numbers, but Chafee said he figures Clinton to be ahead based on phone-bank responses.
Manny Gonzales: 303-954-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com
