Emblematic
of the Democratic Party’s New Generation of Western Leaders, Hometown
Governor and Mayor to ‘Bookend’ Convention Program
DENVER –
The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Obama for
America Campaign announced today that Colorado Governor Bill Ritter,
Jr. and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper will address the 2008 Democratic
National Convention held in Denver from August 25th through August
28th.
“We chose to come to Denver for our 2008 Convention
because we believe we have a compelling story to tell in the West,”
said Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National
Committee. “Governor Ritter and Mayor Hickenlooper are examples of the
kind of leadership Democrats bring to the West and to our nation. We
are grateful to them for their partnership throughout the Convention
planning process, and we are proud to feature them both in the program
we will put forth from Denver.”
“It’s tradition that the
hometown mayor and governor play a role in the Convention program --
but we couldn’t be more excited to showcase these two great leaders
just two weeks from now. Without their help, we would never have been
able to open the doors of the Convention to a record number of
Coloradans,” said Matt Nugen, Convention Director for the Obama for
America Campaign. “At this Convention, we’ll highlight the West, and
both Governor Ritter and Mayor Hickenlooper are emblematic of Western
leadership -- pragmatic problem solvers who, like Barack Obama, do
not let things like party affiliation get in the way of getting the job
done.”
Mayor Hickenlooper will speak on the Convention’s opening
night, Monday, August 25, at the Pepsi Center. In an effort to
highlight the setting of the Convention and the importance of the
Mountain West to the Democratic Party, Monday’s program will also
feature a video segment introducing delegates and other Convention
attendees to the natural beauty and strong voices of leadership in the
region.
Governor Ritter will speak on the Convention’s closing
night, Thursday, August 28, at INVESCO Field at Mile High. There,
throwing open the doors to the 2008 Convention, Barack Obama will
accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for President before more than
75,000 people.
The DNCC and the Obama Campaign will continue to announce elements of the 2008 Convention program throughout this week.
