Oregon Democrats head to Denver

They’re in the air. They’re on the road. Some of them are even already there.

Members of Oregon’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention are flocking toward the Mile High City this weekend, along with thousands of other Democrats to nominate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama as their candidate for president of the United States.

“This is a little out of my comfort zone,” said Jack Lorts, president of the Fossil City Council and a delegate for Hillary Clinton out of CD-2. He was on the phone, calling from just over the Oregon border in Fruitland, Idaho. He is driving to Denver and expects to get there sometime Sunday. “My wife is going with me and we’ve never been to anything like this.”

Carla “KC” Hanson, chair of the Multnomah County Democrats, was already on the ground, and could confirm that the show waiting Oregon delegates in Denver was going to be unlike anything they had experienced.

“We got a sneak peak in the Pepsi Center the other day,” Hanson said. “That stage they got set up is a video technophile dream.”

Hanson had arrived early in order to meet with the Stonewall Democrats. She said the meetings had been interesting, but that the gay and lesbian caucus in Oregon had a lot of work to do in Denver and once they arrived back in Oregon.

“We need to energize the GLBT community behind Jeff Merkley for senate,” Hanson said. “Gordon did some good things, like the hate crimes bill, but he supported the marriage amendment that defined marriage as well. So there’s no comparison between the two candidates. If we can galvanize support from the GLBT community, this is absolutely critical.”

Most members of the Oregon delegation spoke in excited anticipation of Wednesday night when U.S. Senate candidate Merkley (D-Portland) will take center stage at the Pepsi Center, giving an Oregonian the opportunity to address the convention and the nation.

Hanson and Lortis said they, along with other delegates, were still sifting through the mounds of schedules and invitations for events that they could attend. They both know it promises to be a busy week.

But Oregon’s alternate delegates, who also get to attend the convention but do not get to cast their vote, the opportunity to pick and choose what they want to see and be a part of.

“It’s the best of all possible worlds,” said Oregon House Rep. Larry Galizio (D-Tigard), who is going to the convention as an alternate delegate. “I have less responsibility, but all the access. That’s the way I look at it.”

Galizio was one of Oregon’s first elected officials to endorse Obama, and he did speak with some regret at not being able to cast a nominating vote for him. But all of Oregon’s regular delegates are expected to cast their final vote for Obama. Even Clinton’s supporters, like Lortis, are looking forward to that moment.

“I’ve really gotten into Obama now,” Lorts said. “Obama has so much to offer. And the alternative is unthinkable.”

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