Polly Baca

The home state for the Democratic National Convention will be well-represented during the next four days.

Shortly following the invocation which will be performed by former state Sen. Polly Baca of Greely, the Colorado Children's Chorale will sing the National Anthem.

Two Denver mayors have speaking roles: current Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) will make remarks this evening, and former mayor Federico Peña (D) will speak on Tuesday.

With traditionally Republican Colorado now in contention, the ever-increasing Latino population may prove decisive in the 2008 election cycle, with both parties striving to add Hispanic votes to their column.

Recent waves of immigration have made Hispanic-Americans the state's fastest-growing demographic as well as its largest -- and most politically powerful -- minority group.

Colorado Democratic Party Chairwoman Pat Waak also expects Hispanic voters to vote on "pocketbook issues."

"Hispanic voters are not that much different from other voters," Waak said, adding: "Those bread-and-butter issues that concern the average voter are down-the-line represented by us this year."

Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams, while agreeing that Hispanics differ little from other voters, believes that the Republicans better represent the interests of most Latinos - particularly U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer, whose campaign Wadhams heads.

"[Latino voters] are concerned about national security, they're concerned about energy prices, and they're concerned about taxes. Many Hispanics are small business owners, and want lower taxes on small businesses," Wadhams said.

Dan Willis has posted on ColoradoPols a partial list of voting results from the state Democratic convention last Saturday in Colorado Springs. 

According to Willis and the Colorado Dems' Web site, the at-large delegates should be posted shortly.

The Party Leader/Election Offical (PLEO) delegates are:
Veronica Barela (Obama)
Terrance Carroll (Obama)
Vivian Stovall (Obama)
Paul Lopez (Obama)
Rosemary Marshall (Obama)
Mona Merchant (Clinton)
Jessica Clark (Clinton)  

The New DNC Members are:

Mannie Rodriguez
Debbie Marquez
Anthony Graves

The At-Large Presidential Electors are:
Margaret Atencio
Polly Baca