PHILADELPHIA — The most prominent Bernie Sanders supporter in Colorado made a plea for party unity at the Democratic National Convention — but it didn’t work.
From today’s Denver Post: Choking back tears at one point, Sanders backer and state Rep. Joe Salazar highlighted the stakes of the election in a breakfast speech Tuesday to Colorado delegates attending the convention. He acknowledged the challenge of supporting a former rival, but said the alternative was too dangerous for any other course of action.
“As bitter as it might be for some of you — and it is bitter for me, too — I’m going to ask you to switch gears,” said Salazar, noting Sanders’ vocal endorsement of Clinton the night before. “As much as itap going to hurt to do this, we have to.”
But many of the 41 Sanders delegates that Colorado sent to the convention said backing Clinton is still a bitter pill to swallow. .
Editor’s note: Welcome to a special-edition Spot political memo from the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. More Colorado political news, notes and a look ahead to Wednesday at the convention below.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR WEDNESDAY: The DNC will gavel to a start at 4 p.m. And more big-name Democrats are on the docket. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will speak. And vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine will make his big introduction.
Earlier in the day, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper will attend a Politico-led discussion about energy with Clinton campaign adviser Trevor Houser.
THREE STORIES WE ARE READING:
A HISTORIC MOMENT. : The Democratic convention formally nominated Hillary Clinton for president on Tuesday, making history by choosing a woman to be the first standard-bearer of a major political party, a breakthrough underscored by a deeply personal speech by Bill Clinton calling her “the best darn change-maker I have ever known.”
Colorado Democrats had one of these questionable fundraising accounts. : Leaked emails show the Democratic National Committee scrambled this spring to conceal the details of a joint fundraising arrangement with Hillary Clinton that funneled money through state Democratic parties.
But during the three-month period when the DNC was working to spin the situation, state parties kept less than one half of one percent of the $82 million raised through the arrangement — validating concerns raised by campaign finance watchdogs, state party allies and Bernie Sanders supporters.
Pot lobby finds a welcome reception at DNC. : Marijuana has gone mainstream at the Democratic National Convention this week. Democratic officials, including Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer and his state’s Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, mingled with pot industry executives Monday night at a reception at a sleek bar downtown, miles away from the convention hall. A day earlier, the Marijuana Policy Project staged a fundraiser to support its work to push new laws around the country legalizing the use of marijuana. And inside the hall Monday, convention delegates endorsed a platform that calls for a “reasoned pathway” for the drug’s legalization.
TO PROVE THE POINT:
Colorado delegate with pot leaf lei is winning the night so far
— David Weigel (@daveweigel)
GOP BREAK → Senate candidate Darryl Glenn’s of assault charge don’t match an arrest record. Glenn’s (non)response to inquiries about the incident surprised independent Colorado political analyst Eric Sondermann. “It strikes me as a classic example of the coverup being worse than the offense,” Sondermann said.
MICHAEL BENNET’S MISSED VOTE: The Colorado delegation took a vote at its morning delegation breakfast ahead of casting its lot in the roll call. Missing: U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet. And he didn’t show by the time the state announced its tally — 41 for Sanders and 36 for Clinton and one abstention.
https://twitter.com/mkmatthews/status/758068426975825920
The Republicans were quick to highlight the situation. Colorado GOP Chairman Steve House issued a statement: “Sen. Michael Bennet’s decision to go into hiding today instead of casting his vote with the rest of Colorado’s delegation at the DNC shows he lacks the courage to continue serving as our Senator,” said Colorado GOP Chairman Steve House.
“Clearly Bennet’s experience being booed off the stage by Sanders supporters at last April’s state convention was more traumatic for the Clinton superdelegate than we realized.”
WHAT YOU MISSED ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE — Peyton Manning and Donald Trump Jr. Just a photo, or an endorsement? Manning donated money to Jeb Bush earlier this campaign cycle. But Donald Trump did say Manning and the Broncos in the Super Bowl. So maybe Manning will return the favor with an endorsement at some point.
Hanging out with Peyton Manning at the Neshoba County Fair that started in 1889.
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr)
AND WELL, THERE’S THIS:
. campaign in Colorado using to register voters. Not making that up!@CBSDenver
— Shaun Boyd (@CBS4Shaun)