CD-2 Convention Post-Mortum

Ok, so what came out of the CD-2 Convention? Here's what I think was of note today:

1. Form a personal point of view, the top item today was that the very first place you could get the Fitz-Gerald/Polis results was this blog. I camped outside the library and when they first walked out the door, I got them and immediately posted them. That was cool - beating all of the official news media.
2. Jared getting 40% is easily the biggest item today. That was better than expected, much better. Some were worried he might not crack 30%. Joan is almost certainly stronger in the convention than in the primary. And who knows who Will Shafroth hurts more (and he has strong support too). This race is totally up in the air and if Joan and Jared are dead even - that is advantage Will. 71/29 Joan would have had Joan on the expressway to victory. 60/40 means it's anyone's game.
3. Joe Neguse is truly an up and coming force. 86.4% did not come from students, there weren't that many there. And Curt Williams is a compelling speaker too. He could flame out somehow but I think he's well grounded and we'll continue to see him moving up. Joe - get a job in the private sector where you learn to manage people - that will stand you in very good stead when you are governor.
4. The presidential primary is over. Both candidates are working on bringing the party together and having Obama win the general election. Peña & Webb are both very experienced politicians that are members of each campaign team. By definition both were "on message" at the convention and that was a love-fest, by both of them.
5. Adams County does not run a meeting as well as Boulder. Of course, that is not surprising. (They weren't bad, but neither were they awesome.)

And the most important issue of the day, did I get elected as a delegate? I don't know. I handed out about 500 fliers about please consider all delegates and another 500 for me. I had people stop me and ask questions. I had 2 people ask for a bunch of my fliers to hand out. Results should be available tomorrow.

I also got to meet a lot of people that I have exchanged emails and blog posts with - but had never met. They were all very nice. I talked to Will Shafroth and Cindy Carlisle for a bit. They are both very calm and happy considering the fact that they are in very competitive races. I was less calm and all I was doing was a 1 day campaign as a delegate.

Most impressive delegate candidate? By far it was Sarah Kihm. She's earned a spot for her efforts but she also come across so very well as an advocate for Obama. And she sell's herself well. The convention is a media event and she'll be a strong asset there.

And finally we have a Razzie to hand out - to the Polis campaign. Apparently when they heard that not all delegates were there, they started calling all delegates to ask them to show up. They didn't call only the missing ones - they called all of them. So my daughter gets a call 1½ hours after I left the house saying I wasn't there. She text-ed me and I answered but she was worried I had been in an accident and was going to call the state patrol next.

Don't do this! Find who didn't show and call them. Don't call everyone. Absolutely don't call and say they did not show up - say you are just checking if they went. It loses you the votes of family members.

Comments

[L.]

Regarding the phone call, there was at one point some concern that there were more missing delegates than alternates to take their spots (in presidential campaigns as well as the Polis campaign). This could have meant many individual voters had no representation. We were given phone lists when it seemed that might be the case... obviously an urgent business, without time to cross-reference. The reason I write this is: if you're a delegate to State next week, don't assume there are enough alternates to cover for you. Make sure you honor your promise to those you represent by getting down to Colorado Springs!!

[Debbie Marquez]

David thanks for the live blog report. Even though I was there, I learned even more from your reports. I wasn't a del to the convention today so I didn't get to vote. There were a number of very special people who are deserving. I wish they could all go to the DNCC.

[Neil Simon]

David,

I voted for you on todays ballot, because I believe that your live blogging -- as a natl delegate -- can really stand out. And it bodes well for Boulder County. Thanks. I enjoy your content as well.

Best, Neil

[Brad]

I agree with what you say about Sarah Kihm, and I think this helps to partially explain why Boulder Grassroots made recommendations -- to try to make sure that people like Sarah have a good chance of becoming national delegates. In my opinion, had there not been recommendations made she probably would have slipped through the cracks, given all the people who were trying to be a national delegate, but since there were recommendations she has a good chance.

In other news, thanks for live-blogging the convention!