DENVER — Barack Obama’s speech on the gridiron drove Pitkin County Commissioner Dorothea Farris to tears last night. But that might not be saying much. “When they play the national anthem, I cry,” Farris elaborated.
While tears and patriotism might not be out of the ordinary, Obama’s speech unquestionably was, and its historic nature is what compelled Farris to make the trek down to Denver. But in her view, it isn’t the color of Obama’s skin that makes his political journey unique; it’s his entire family tree — all the roots and shades that make it.
“I resent it when people say he’s our first ‘black’ presidential nominee,” Farris said. “He’s a multiracial candidate that represents the multiracial nature of our country.”
It was a glorious evening at Invesco Field at Mile High. Hope swelled in the eyes of thousands of attendees. The candidate’s main mantra — change — seemed palpable. “It harked back to my days in high school when we were proud to be Americans, proud of our ingenuity,” Farris said.
The commissioner was one of dozens of Roaring Fork Valley residents in Denver this week, here to behold Obama as the Democratic nominee to the nation’s highest office. As U.S. Rep. Mark Udall noted, Colorado provided the perfect backdrop for the Obama campaign, with its wide-open skies and Western spirit of boundless optimism.
“Obama represents everybody. His life story and heritage represents everything great about this country,” said Camilla Auger, chair of the Pitkin County Democrats.
The crowd went wild for the candidate throughout the six-hour event, which included performances by musicians, including Stevie Wonder and John Legend, and speeches from the Democratic elite: Al Gore, Bill Richardson, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, and many others.
Zach Ornitz/Aspen Daily NewsPitkin County Commissioner Dorothea Farris (left) shields her eyes from the sun while Basalt resident Lynn Lichtenwalter keeps her company on Thursday at Invesco Field in Denver. About 30 volunteers from Pitkin County attended the event.
A football theme also resonated throughout the night, with one section of the stadium chanting “O!” before another section shouted “Bama!” The wave also made an appearance, with thousands of people jumping to their feet and throwing their hands into the sky over and over again.
Blanca O’Leary, a delegate for Pitkin County, said what she took home from Obama’s Mile High moment was the candidate’s interaction with his wife and children.
“The end was spectacular, when he kissed his wife and hugged her. He shows he has a very loving family,” said O’Leary, adding that Biden, the vice presidential candidate on the ticket, displayed a similar love for his “drop-dead-gorgeous wife.”
“Obama addressed all the points of what he’ll do when he is president of the United States. This is a man of substance,” she said, adding that he answered the attacks coming from the McCain campaign.
Bryan Gonzales, a delegate for Eagle County who came to the convention to support Hillary Clinton, said he thinks Obama “is going to make a fantastic president.”
“The world is ours if we elect this man. I am now firmly behind Barack,” he said. “He surprised me on a lot of fronts. He definitely went farther than I expected him to go on a lot of issues. He touched the right nerves and he said all of the right things.”
John Kerry, the Democrats’ presidential nominee four years ago, was also moved. “He’s connecting to the problems of everyday Americans and his challenge to McCain on national security was fabulous. He gave a superb speech,” Kerry said.
Still, the road ahead will be a tough for Obama, who once enjoyed a six-point lead over his Republican opponent, John McCain, in Colorado. Now that lead has disappeared in this key battleground state. The latest polls show him in a virtual tie with McCain in Colorado, and some pollsters say the Republican enjoys a two-point lead.
“Now the real work begins,” said Gonzales, who plans to canvas neighborhoods, make phone calls and help the Obama campaign in any way that he is asked. “We need to stop fighting with ourselves and get his message out.”
hoop@aspendailynews.com
