| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, August 12, 2008 |
CONTACT:
Jenni Engebretsen - DNCC Jenny Backus - OFA |
COLORADO
GOVERNOR RITTER, DENVER MAYOR HICKENLOOPER
TO ADDRESS 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
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.