Spirited Dems swamp Springs for Day 1 of state convention
By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Friday, May 16, 2008
Photo by Lynn Bartels
Rocky Mountain News
Pam Clausen, Elana Hanson and Janice Francis, all of Colorado Springs, made T-shirts for the state Democratic convention. They say ColoradObama on the front and "Vote for Change" on the back. Hanson and Francis are trying to become delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
COLORADO SPRINGS — Hundreds of rowdy Democrats holding Clinton and Obama signs tried to out chant each other Friday afternoon at the kickoff of the Colorado Democratic Convention.
"Fired up! Ready to go!" Barack Obama supporters cheered.
"Yes she can!" Hillary Clinton supporters yelled back.
Democrats packed the DoubleTree Hotel, standing in line for as long as three hours to get their credentials for three congressional conventions held Friday at the hotel and for today's statewide convention at the World Arena.
More than 6,000 conventioneers are expected today, creating parking nightmares for conventioneers and area businesses.
Nearly 1,500 Democrats have hopes of being elected to the few spots left as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August. Frustration grew as confusion reigned when it appeared the line was not moving.
"I don't know how we ever won an election," groused 74-year-old Charles Miller of Pueblo.
Pat Waak, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, walked up and down the line talking to conventioneers.
"I said, 'Aren't you glad there are this many Democrats?' and they said, 'Yes.'"
The 5th Congressional District convention began at 4 p.m. with plenty of cheers and shouts as supporters of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton gave brief speeches about why they should be elected a DNC delegate and go to Denver in August.
But computer glitches held up the voting in that convention, and with two more congressional conventions to go, Democratic organizers feared the night could go past midnight.
12 delegates will get nod
At the World Arena today, Democrats will hold their state assembly and nominate Mark Udall for the U.S. Senate.
At the convention that follows, they will pick 12 DNC delegates and two alternates from hundreds of candidates. So many people are running that the Obama ballot is 70 pages long, and the Clinton ballot is 46 pages long, said Sherry Jackson, executive director of the state Democratic Party.
Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the DNC, will speak on Clinton's behalf. Arizona Gov. Jane Napolitano will urge delegates to support Obama.
The 3rd, 4th and 5th Congressional Districts held their conventions Friday at the DoubleTree. Colorado's other four congressional districts held their conventions earlier, and picked delegates to the DNC.
Tacy Lewis got a big laugh in the 5th CD convention when she said felt sorry for herself. "I've had three Republican husbands and I live in eastern El Paso County," she said.
The crowd cheered for 18-year-old Shannon Anthony, who said her parents are Republicans and she's an Obama supporters.
A Clinton supporter also got cheers when she said "it isn't over until the lady in the pantsuit says it is."
Another Obama supporter was Janice Francis, who recounted her joy when she turned onto East Cheyenne Mountain Road earlier Friday and encountered dozens of Obama and Clinton signs and rows of cars with liberal bumper stickers.
"I never thought I'd see that in Colorado Springs, absolutely not, and I've lived here since high school," said Francis, 65.
She waved a sign that read "Grandma for Obama" — "my grandson made that for me, if you put that in he'll be so tickled." She said she'd give an "arm and a leg" to be elected a delegate to the national convention.
'White women for Obama'
Francis and two of her friends, Elana Hanson and Pam Clausen, wore T-shirts they designed and sold that said "ColoradObama." Francis and Hanson are trying to get elected as delegates from the 5th District.
If they win, Clausen said she's going to go to Denver and share their hotel room with them.
"We're white women for Obama," Clausen said.
"Oprah's the one who got us turned on to him," Francis said.
Registration Friday began at 1 p.m., but lines started forming in the hotel lobby at 10 a.m.
Maxine Mattson, 70, of Colorado Springs, had the coveted spot of first in line.
"They said the lines were going to be long and to get here early," she said. "It was sure is important for me to be here. I want Hillary."
Plenty of conventioneers talked about parking nightmares. Even buses that dropped off dozens of Democrats at the DoubleTree were not immune.
"Attention, the buses that are parked in the Target parking lot will be towed," said a voice over the hotel loudspeaker.
Minutes later came another announcement, this time about towing cars parked along the main road.
Saturday's events are at the Event Center, which has parking for 2,400 vehicles. An estimated 10,000 Democrats were expected to descend on El Paso County Friday and today.
"Isn't that great? This place is so Republican," Francis said.
bartels@RockyMountainNews.com
or 303-954-5327
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May 16, 2008
2:41 p.m.
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DenverDan writes:
Colorado will host the next Pres. GO DEMS
May 16, 2008
3:41 p.m.
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Shaggy writes:
There sure are going to be a bunch of disappointed Liberals come this November.
I just hope they don't burn the town down twice, once during the circus in August and then again in November.
May 16, 2008
3:48 p.m.
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DenverDan writes:
Shaggy
You must be a dork. Who told you that, Rush. You both are encorrect.
May 16, 2008
4:13 p.m.
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egleason writes:
DenverDan
Are you still in middle school? A question mark after Rush is needed. Also, encorrect. I hope for your sake either you are in 3rd grade, or your child wrote this response for you.
May 16, 2008
4:23 p.m.
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smith writes:
Hillary did make a point of highlighting her white, uneducated voter support. DenverDan seems to qualify.
And those shirts on the ladies in the picture are about the ugliest T-shirts I've ever seen. Come on, at least a little creativity!
May 16, 2008
4:27 p.m.
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InsGuru720 writes:
encorrect? eh? You both sound a little ignorant. I have been a long time Republican that is switching parties due to the sick way the Republicans have used fear and religion to gain all of their political power. Then, they use that power to profit from their own Democracy/Christian crusade in the Middle East. It is absolutely corrupt and disgusting to me as an American who still believes in freedom.
May 16, 2008
8:10 p.m.
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me2 writes:
I love predictions from conservatives. Remember S. Hannity saying "you will never hear the words, Nancy Pellosi, Speaker of the House."
May 16, 2008
9:11 p.m.
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gethoht writes:
What's with all the riot comments? Seriously? The only thing I've heard about riots in Denver is that <idiot>Rush Limbaugh</idiot> actively encouraged people to start one to make the dems look bad(enciting a riot is a crime fyi).
May 16, 2008
9:42 p.m.
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Uno writes:
These Dems look like a pile of retards...