(Warner, Winter, DeGette, Paccione)
Congressional candidate Bill Winter (CO-6) hosted a great party on Wednesday, bringing together the future Colorado Congressional delegation and Presedential hopeful, Gov. Mark Warner.
Gov. Warner's
Foward Together PAC held a much blogged about 'Map Changers' contest to identify the progressive champion candidates from across America who could marshal broad Netroots support.
Facing some tough challenges that included Senators and Governors, and some fantastic candidates in States as large as California and Texas, Bill was able to get the votes needed to bring Warner to Colorado.
As a local blogger who is passionately in the Winter camp, I know how much energy our community put into making this happen, and I managed to wrangle the job of credentialing media covering the event.
Johne of Square State, Erin Rosa of Colorado Confidential, Matt Ingwalson of Colorado Lib were among the many who attended.
There was no shortage of people for them to engage.
Winner of the CD-7 primary Ed Perlmutter, CD-4 candidate Angie Paccione, CD-5 candidate Jay Fawcett and Congresswoman Diana DeGette all shared the stage and discussed Tancredo, Musgrave, Beauprez, and all of the other changes they intend to create in November.
(Warner, Winter, Degette)
I spoke to Warner about Yearly Kos. I mentioned that a group of bloggers were now calling themselves the 'Chocolate Fountain Caucus'. He laughed an embarassed laugh and said, "I was coming off that elevator, and I didn't see the fountain, but I did see this big ice sculpture in front of me and I thought, 'What are these guys doing to me?' and of course I knew that people were going to talk about all that."
Warner was very willing to engage me in discussions about the netroots and how the technology was changing campaigning. He seemed to actually take more time with me than if I was one of the swarming VIPs.
In the contest we had a very strong rivalry with the friends of John Courage (TX-21) and I wanted Warner to know that we in Colorado have always wanted him to also support the Fighting Dem in Austin. Warner assured me that he is trying to set something up so he can visit there as well.
Bill Winter gave a couple of great speeches, and said how proud he was of Representative DeGette for being the first person vetoed by Bush. I agree with Bill that it is a badge of honor, but Rep. DeGette was also right that losing a valuable piece of stem cell legislation is not the reason we should be celebrating. The real day for cheering will come when she is able to be the Dean of a delegation that includes great progressives, patriots, and people like Winter, Paccione, Perlmutter and Fawcett, and we can get that legislation passed.
Paccione had some indisputably good news. A recent poll showed her within the margin of error in her race against Marilyn Musgrave. Given that momentum is with her, and that she beat Musgrave in fundraising last quarter, things are looking great in Colorado this year.
Throughout the week, I will be gathering and posting more photos to my flickr account, so check back there in a couple of days for updates if you are interested or leave a note here if you were at the event and have photos you would like me to include in the collection.