DENVER—Barack Obama won Colorado’s nine electoral votes Tuesday, the first time since 1992 that a Democratic presidential candidate carried the battleground state.
Democrats targeted Colorado as part of their strategy to conquer Western states following dramatic victories in state elections across the region over the past eight years. In August, Obama accepted his party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Republican John McCain fought hard for the state, visiting frequently as did running mate Sarah Palin. His campaign couldn’t match the resources poured into Colorado by the well-funded Obama campaign.
Obama opened more than 50 offices across the state, recruiting young and old to carry the torch. Huge crowds welcomed him wherever he went, even in conservative strongholds that included Grand Junction and El Paso County.
With 49 percent of the projected vote counted, Obama led McCain 54 percent to 45 percent.
In Denver, a crowd of more than 100,000 people spilled out of Civic Center Park for Obama. Supporters jammed side streets and even sat on the steps of the state Capitol two blocks away, using binoculars and telephoto lenses to try to get a glimpse of the front-runner as he canvassed the West for votes.
Obama’s victory was another blow to Colorado Republicans, who have lost two U.S. House seats and a U.S. Senate seat in just four years.
Colorado has voted for a Democratic presidential candidate only three times since 1948, when it went for Harry Truman. Lyndon B. Johnson won here in 1964, and Bill Clinton in 1992.
Statewide, Obama was the overwhelming favorite in the February caucuses, gaining 66 percent of the vote compared to 33 percent for Hillary Clinton.
Federico Pena, co-chair of Obama’s campaign, said Obama brought a lot of supporters from previous campaigns back into the fold. One of the big prizes this year was Colorado’s Hispanic vote, where Obama led with 70 percent support.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was a frequent visitor to Colorado, campaigning on Obama’s behalf after his own presidential effort collapsed.
“Es uno de nosotros! He’s one of us!” Richardson would declare.
