WASHINGTON — Democratic governors will meet with Sen. Barack Obama this month and offer help in winning states this November as they try to use inroads in swing states like Colorado to win back the White House, party leaders said Tuesday.
“There are 28 of us, 28 Democratic governors around this great nation,” said Democratic Governors Association Chairman Joe Manchin, governor of West Virginia. “We represent 294 electoral votes in our respective states.”
With the primary race now over, Democratic leaders gathered to promote their candidate. In doing so, they gave clear signals how they’ll campaign. Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid each linked presumptive Republican nominee John McCain to President Bush.
“We do not need four more years of George Bush,” Pelosi said.
Colorado and Virginia are key examples of swing states that can push Democrats over the top in November, Manchin said.
Both have Democratic governors described by Manchin as popular. Manchin said there are 10 swing states, but he did not list them all.
Governors like Colorado’s Bill Ritter can help Obama with the important regional issues, Manchin said. All Democratic governors can use the groundwork laid in their campaigns to help Obama, he said.
“We know how to bring people together; we know how to get results,” Manchin said.
Ritter has a family commitment and will not be able to attend the meeting with Obama, said Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer.
“Gov. Ritter looks forward to talking with him and spending some time with him before the convention in August,” Dreyer said.
Colorado GOP Chairman Dick Wadhams predicted McCain will win the state in November. The Arizona senator’s record of fiscal restraint and national security appeals to the state’s block of independent voters, Wadhams said.
In addition, Wadhams said, Obama “disparaged rural America and therefore rural Coloradans,” with his comment about how lower-income people become bitter and cling to guns and religion to deal with the economic uncertainty.
McCain has said Obama “has no experience, no knowledge or background” on Western issues.
“I believe as a Western senator I understand the issues, the challenges of the future for these … states, whether it be land, water, Native American issues, preservation, environmental issues,” McCain said in an interview with The Associated Press.
At the Democratic gathering, Dean also said that the Democratic National Committee will not have trouble raising money now that a nominee has been named. Denver’s host committee for the national convention has been struggling to meet its contractual fundraising commitments.
Anne C. Mulkern: 202-662-8907 or amulkern@denverpost.com
