Dems look at Springs for state convention

DENVER - Rivers may boil, cats and dogs may lie down together and the Democratic State Convention may be coming to Colorado Springs in 2008.

Colorado Democratic Party Vice Chairman Dan Slater said Tuesday that party leaders are considering two sites for next year’s convention — Broomfield and Colorado Springs. A Site Selection Committee will begin discussing options this weekend, conduct site visits later and make a recommendation by June, he said.

While Colorado Springs hosting a weekend gathering is not comparable in importance or economic impact to Denver’s holding of the Democratic National Convention next year, it would be a significant and somewhat surprising step for local Democrats.

With Rep. Mike Merrifield winning three straight races and John Morse in 2006 becoming the first El Paso Democrat elected to the Colorado Senate in 30 years, the state and local parties say there is new life in the middle of conservative country. Placing the convention in Colorado Springs could add to that resurgence, Slater said.

“Certainly, if we do go to El Paso County, it would be a clear indication of the growth of the El Paso County Democrats,” he said. “They’re no longer the whipping boys for Republicans.”

The World Arena hosted GOP events in 1998, 2002 and 2006. Republicans are even considering coming back next year.

What surprises local Democratic activist Rick Haas is that it took this long for his party to seek a major event in the region. The idea of applying came up during a meeting several months ago, and he brought a proposal to county chairman John Morris recently.

“I think it would be very helpful for Democrats in this area to know they are part of the political mainstream,” Haas said.

Slater predicted Democratic gains could come with the convention, as they did after it was held in Greeley last year. Gov. Bill Ritter won Weld County, and Slater attributed that to pumping up the voter base during the convention.

Republicans scoff at the notion that victory follows a convention and several said they would welcome the event to town, though for different reasons.

State GOP Chairman Dick Wadhams said he hopes the people of Colorado Springs would get a better chance to see how left of center Democrats are. U.S. Senate candidates are nominated at state conventions, and Wadhams said he’d love to expose what he considers the overly liberal voting record of Congressman Mark Udall, the presumptive nominee.

State Rep. Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, took a more capitalistic approach to the possibility.

“I can’t think of anything more liberating than watching the liberals spending their money liberally in our conservative businesses,” Cadman said. “Those businesses could then maybe afford to donate more money to us to fight the Democrats.”

Oddly enough, the GOP is also looking at two potential convention sites — Broomfield and Colorado Springs. Leaders from both parties said the other’s choice will not play into theirs other than to ensure they won’t be held on the same weekend if they’re in the same city.

CONTACT THE WRITER: (303)837-0613 or ed.sealover@gazette.com