With the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado politicians were given a unique opportunity to show off their blue-trending state. In exchange, they received prime speaking slots with a national audience. Here, in order of their Thursday night speeches, we look at what they choose to speak on, how their speeches went, and where their future lies.

Bill Ritter
Office: Governor
Topics of Conversation: New energy economy
Delivery: Hoarse. Ritter must have been speaking at private parties all weekend, because he sounded like a bull frog.
Political Future: Looking good. Between a successful convention in Denver, and the laudatory story in The New Yorker this week, Ritter’s star has never been brighter. He has national office written all over him.

Ed Perlmutter
Office: CD-7 Congressman
Topics of Conversation: Oil drilling, renewable energy
Delivery: Earnest. He comes across as an accountant-turned-politician.
Political Future: Perlmutter’s only served one term in an incredibly tough district. If he slips up at all, the Republicans will be ready to unseat him.

John Salazar
Office: CD-3 Congressman
Topics of Conversation: Rural America
Delivery: Impassioned—the protypical Western politician.
Political Future: Since his younger brother Ken is already a Colorado Senator, John will probably be in the House for a while.

Diana DeGette
Office: CD-1 Congresswoman
Topics of Conversation: Stem cell research, health care
Delivery: Solid and thoughtful.
Political Future: As chief deputy whip among the House Democrats, DeGette is well positioned to advance to the highest levels of House leadership.

Mark Udall
Office: CD-2 Congressman, running for U.S. Senate
Topics of Conversation: Rocky Mountain optimism, independence, and pragmatism
Delivery: Western. Udall was wearing jeans, cowboy boots, and a bolo tie.
Political Future: Judging by the key time-slot Udall received—6 p.m., right before VP-contender/ Virginia Governor Tim Kaine—the Democrats have their eyes on him. Provided he wins his Senate race this fall, Udall could be the same kind of environmental-advancing Senator his father, Mo Udall, his once was.

Posted 8/28/2008 at 11:44 pm by Patrick Doyle
DNC, Politics :: Permalink :: Comments

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.