The Colorado Democratic Party’s state convention kicks off today in Colorado Springs, where even the protesters will gather with an eye toward the national convention in August.
Party officials are expecting approximately 9,600 delegates and alternates at the World Arena. That’s a record turnout for a state convention, they say, fueled by an exciting presidential primary and the anticipation of the national convention in Denver a few months later.
“We’re coming up to the cusp of changing the direction of the country, and people want to play a role,” said party spokesman Matt Sugar. “The enthusiasm is unprecedented in Colorado.”
Republicans will hold their state convention May 31 in Broomfield.
The purpose of the Democratic state convention, which runs through Saturday, is to pick the final delegates to the national convention, firm up the party’s platform, nominate congressional candidates and put Mark Udall on the ballot as the party’s lone U.S. Senate candidate.
But it’s also a big pep rally.
Party chairwoman Pat Waak said the event will give delegates the chance to get to know candidates. She said there will be political VIPs, but not Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton.
And, she predicted, “there will be a lot of Pikes Peak jokes.”
That’s a crack aimed at Udall’s Republican opponent, Bob Schaffer, who released a TV ad that showed a picture of Mount McKinley in Alaska instead of Pikes Peak.
The website has been giving protesters advice on where to demonstrate.
Lt. Skip Arms of the Colorado Springs Police Department said there are “free-speech zones” set up around the arena.
“We want to maintain as low a profile as we can,” he said. “For us, a successful convention will be when the Police Department is not part of the story.”
Tim Hoover: 303-954-1626 or thoover@denverpost.com
