Democrats came from the far reaches of the state; up to 10,000 strong were expected, to gather inside Colorado Springs' World Arena on Saturday, May 17 th for the Colorado Democrats State Convention and Assembly. As a Delegate from Jefferson County, I made the trek to be in the shadow of Pike's Peak, or as Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Bob Schaffer might say, Mt. McKinley, so I could officially cast my Delegate votes for Mark Udall for U.S. Senate and Barack Obama for President. It was indeed a sight to behold seeing thousands of Democrats in the heart of El Paso County. Although we gathered in the arena with music blaring like John Denver's Rocky Mountain High perhaps Bob Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changin' might have been just as appropriate if not more so. Standing in line patiently waiting to receive my ballot I was speaking with Colorado State Representative Cheri Jahn who said: "We'll never see the likes of this again. It was the perfect storm!" Her comment referring to the many thousands who had assembled to participate in the convention process during this '08 election season with the DNC taking place in August in Denver.

So who was there and what was said? In addition to the usual cast of Democratic party characters like Pat Waak, CDP Chair who welcomed everyone to the Convention, Gov. Bill Ritter spoke of the many accomplishments made in the legislature this year followed by U.S. Senator Ken Salazar, his brother, John Salazar, U.S. Congressman from District 3, Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien, State Treasurer Cary Kennedy, CD1 U.S Congresswoman Diana DeGette, and CD7 Congressman Ed Perlmutter. Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff introduced the Dems currently serving in the Statehouse and those who would like to win seats this year and Senate President Peter Groff introduced his colleagues currently in the Colorado Senate and those seeking to join them. But the big deal of the day and the purpose of the Assembly was the nomination of U.S. Congressman Mark Udall, as the Colorado Democrats candidate for U.S. Senate to fill the seat soon to be vacated by Republican Senator Wayne Allard.

It was former Colorado State Representative Wilma Webb, seconded by her husband, former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb who nominated Udall. Many others seconded the nomination and then Udall's children, son Jed and daughter Tess introduced a short, well produced film on their father which captured who Mark Udall is and what he's all about. After the lights came back on, Udall's wife of 30 years, Maggie, shed a few tears as she reflected on her best friend and their life together and the pride she holds for her soul-mate, welcomed her husband into the arena. With a bit of over the top fanfare, Udall made his way from the back of the arena to the front stage slowly walking and shaking hands through the Delegate filled Convention floor, followed by a spotlight and surrounded by an army of Udall volunteers wearing Wal-Mart style vests.

When he finally made it to the podium, Udall spoke to the issues of the day and what is of import to Colorado and this country. The man knows what to say to hit home with true "blue" Coloradans and more importantly he practices what he preaches which appeals to those on both sides of the political fence. Udall is a 5 th generation westerner whose family history dates back 100 years here in Colorado. He grew up in a family of 6 kids and has deep rooted environmentally friendly values and a love of the great outdoors that led him to a professional association with the Outward Bound program. Udall is a big renewable energy proponent and believes our country should move toward a Renewable Energy Standard that will create "Green Jobs". He emphasized the importance of supporting our veterans as he believes there's no greater sacrifice than what they have given for this country. When he broached the subject of the war in Iraq and how he opposed it and that we need to honorably egress that situation, a heckler yelled out "Stop funding the war!" Udall, never missed a beat and went on to say "it's time for leaders who are interested in doing what's right instead of scoring partisan points." He said "this election is about Colorado and America's future, not right or left."

After Udall shared his final words of thanks to the delegates, Gov. Bill Ritter moved to have the nomination accepted by acclimation and then CDP Chair Pat Waak officially announced the nomination was accepted to the assembled delegates who had unanimously approved it.

Udall's CD2 seat is now being sought by former State Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, Internet Entrepreneur and State Board of Education member Jared Polis and Conservationist and Businessman Will Shafroth (he's the Great-Grandson of Colorado's "Honest" John Shafroth who served consecutive terms as Governor in addition to being a U.S. House Representative and a U.S. Senator.) Only Polis was at the Assembly as Fitz-Gerald was out walking precincts and Shafroth is petitioning onto the ballot.

Prior to the start of the Convention, as Alternates were being seated, Congressional District candidates took the stage to speak to the delegates. Polis was up first and after a few choice words of what his campaign is all about the next at bat was CD6 Candidate Hank Eng who reinforced the differences between himself and the outgoing CD6 Representative, Tom Tancredo, and the assembled Democrats couldn't have been louder in their support of Eng who appeals to the Democratic mindset of live and let live and their abhorrence of Tancredo's Right Wing eat or be eaten beliefs. Eng is a level-headed businessman with international experience who knows well the values of what makes this country great. As he shared, while his Republican opponents slug it out in what could prove to be an ugly primary, Eng will take the high ground and stick to the important issues that matter to Coloradans.

When Betsy Markey, congressional candidate for CD4 came up to the stage all eyes and ears in the arena collectively focused on the Democrats best hope to send Marilyn Musgrave packing. Markey is a fiery dynamo who is an articulate, politically savvy dedicated public servant and an experienced voice in Colorado. She received the U.S. State Department's Meritorious Honor Award for her contributions to national interests. Markey eloquently admonished Musgrave for condoning and encouraging the "politics of the small" and spoke to the hearts of Coloradans who think their representative should fight for what really matters to the people of this state and this country. Perhaps it's time for sound minds to prevail in the 4 th Congressional District!

As in the game of baseball, the home team batted last. The 5 th Congressional District, home of El Paso County, Colorado Springs and the 2008 Democratic State Convention and Assembly has an outstanding candidate in Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack. When he took the stage he was welcomed with thunderous cheers by all and a standing ovation by the El Paso County delegates. Bidlack is a widowed father of three who is a retired U.S. Air Force officer having spent over 25 years on active duty serving as the Deputy Director of the Air Force Institute for National Security Studies, a State Department Advisor, participant on the National Security Council at the White House and participated in the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks at the Pentagon. In addition, he has a Ph.D in Political Science and American Government. How can any level-headed, educated and/or reasonable voter, regardless of political affiliation or religious bent not consider this man as an extremely viable choice to represent them in Congress? The Republican, conservative stronghold of CD5 has historically voted for the Republican candidate with religious right ties as was the case when current CD5 Congressman Doug Lamborn was elected even when the Democratic alternative was clearly more qualified. With a large military presence in CD5 Bidlack believes it's time to look beyond partisan politics and religious ideology and honor American values such as our sacred promise to those who put themselves in harm's way and support returning combat veterans, retirees and the military community in general. He also said that we don't need to make a false choice between a sound economy and a healthy environment and believes that especially here in Colorado we can have both. On Illegal Immigration, Bidlack does not support amnesty but rather a well-regulated "guest worker" program that would be part of the solution and he proposes that each state should decide how such a program would be realized based on the best interests of the respective state. My concern is that in CD5 Bidlack's words will be, as Kipling said, 'twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools."

After all of the Alternates were seated the State Convention opened to the Obama and Clinton contest. Representing Senator Hillary Clinton was her Campaign Chair, Terry McAuliffe who had a hard time convincing the assembled Obama delegates that theoretically (counting Michigan and Florida) Clinton has the lead in delegate votes. Obama was represented by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano who is the Obama Campaign Co-Chair. The crowd went wild and both Clinton and Obama delegates battled to be heard and seen as posters and banners filled the view and O-Ba-Ma and Hil-La-Ry chants were deafening.

Following the show of loyalty for their presidential candidate, Delegates listened to nominations that were made for those running to serve on the Democratic National Committee and then each DNC candidate was introduced and shared a few words as to why they should receive the Delegates' votes. Anyone who wanted to go to the DNC as a Delegate had to apply with the CDP by April 15 and then promote their candidacy to the congressional and state convention Delegates to win their vote. There will only be about 70 Colorado Delegates at the DNC in Denver and hundreds of Colorado Democrats applied for the historic opportunity to be on the floor in August. I did not!

Finally, Delegates were called by county and instructed to leave their seats in the arena to pick up their ballot and vote for DNC Committee members, Democratic National Convention Electors and Delegates. Jefferson County was one of the first to be called and it took over an hour for me to receive my ballot and then vote. I carefully read through about 50 pages of DNC Delegate candidate names to select from and tried to remember who was who and decide which dedicated Obama Delegate should receive my vote.

Having made my selections, I brought the completed, signed ballot to one of many ballot boxes and made my way out of the arena after one last pass by all of the vendors' tables. I have to admit I was tempted to take a photo of myself with a cardboard cut-out of Barack Obama for $5 so I could use it to accompany this story but opted not to do so. Instead, I just walked out of the arena to a beautiful sunny late afternoon and walked to my car. I took off my delegate credentials worn around my neck, unpinned the Obama buttons from my jacket's lapel, opened the sunroof, turned up the volume on Aerosmith's Dream On and zoomed on down the highway.

Mike Daniels is the author of Living, Loving and Loathing and a former candidate for the Colorado Legislature as well as a Jefferson County Delegate at the 2008 CD6 and State Democratic Conventions and Assemblies