Colorado & Denver News

DENVER (CBS4) ― Few people know the road to Denver as well as Diana DeGette. The Congresswoman from the First District of Colorado has put her heart and soul into preparations for the Democratic National Convention.

"I think this will be remembered as a convention of change. We have an exciting, young candidate, Barack Obama, for the Democrats. We have a vibrant new economy, a new way of looking at things in Denver and in the West, and I think this will be the first convention of the new millennium where we're looking forward to new ideas," said DeGette.

DeGette recorded a series of Web features called "Denver's Finest" to help those attending the convention learn about Denver's attractions. She told CBS4's Brooke Wagner she sometimes feels a bit like a travel agent, but she couldn't be more thrilled to promote her hometown.

"A lot of members of Congress have not been to Denver or the west, so they don't realize we're really a vibrant, modern city. A lot of them are worried about where their hotel is," said DeGette. "They'll say, 'I'm at the Tech Center, oh no!' and I say, 'That's ten minutes and you can take the light rail.'"

DeGette was on the front lines of an effort to appropriate $50 million in federal security money for the convention in Denver.

"The Democratic Convention and the Republican Convention will be two of the most secure places you could be during that time," said DeGette.

As a member of the executive committee of the convention host committee, DeGette admitted there is much work to be done to make funding goals for the Democratic National Convention.

"We have been a little slow, but I think a lot of that was because we were so late to have a nominee. Now that Sen. Obama is the nominee, he's been helping, his staff have been helping, I think we'll meet our goals," said DeGette. "As someone who's been to four conventions, I'm not terribly worried. We do need to work hard, but we will meet our goals and obligations and we will throw a wonderful party for the delegates and for the world to see."

DeGette has long held the convention will be a boon for Denver.

"I think the convention will prove to be a real stimulus for the economy, not just in the short term, but in the long term. The conventions really help set the tone for the fall election," said DeGette.

Setting the tone will also be a big part of presumptive nominee Barack Obama's role.

"He needs to be visionary, but he also needs to talk about how we're going to win the war in Iraq, how we're going to become energy independent, how we're going to have health care for all Americans, how we're going to turn this economy around," DeGette said.

She called Obama's decision to stage his acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium "brilliant." Though a long-time friend of Hillary Clinton, superdelegate DeGette said it was easy to embrace Obama.

"It was never for her and against Barack Obama. I'm perfectly happy and enthusiastic supporting Barack Obama. For the Clinton supporters who are disappointed, we will have our time," DeGette said. She added that an Obama/Clinton ticket would be her "dream ticket" in the fall, though signs are pointing away from Clinton as a running mate. DeGette is an advisor for the Obama campaign, but thinks it unlikely she would accept a Cabinet position in an Obama administration. She said she believes she has more influence through her role on the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

DeGette has also been busy writing a new book. Sex, Science, and Stem Cells; Inside the Right Wing Assault on Reason hits store shelves Aug. 4. It is an account of the congresswoman's battle to open up stem cell research funding in the United States. As the chief architect of stem cell legislation, her bills were twice vetoed by President Bush.

"I'm getting ready to re-introduce my stem cell legislation and I'm hopeful that when we have a new president, we'll have a new stem cell policy," DeGette said. She became interested in the topic after her daughter was diagnosed with diabetes. Diana DeGette is a six-term Democratic in the United States House of Representatives.

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