Denver

DENVER -- Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack said that despite the months he spent hoping that this week in Colorado he would become the Democratic presidential nominee he hasn't thought once about the fact it is obviously not going to happen.

In an interview outside of Iowa's delegation breakfast, he said that instead he was reminiscing on his political career as a whole. In 1986 he and his wife Christie began traveling around Iowa as youth coordinators for Joe Biden's 1988 presidential run. It was during that campaign that Biden quoted a phrase that if people didn't get involved in politics then the ones who do will be less qualified.

DENVER - The Ohio House Democratic Caucus is holding a lunch reception at the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, which caucus spokesperson Phil Saken called a "jewel" of Denver.

Saken said that the location was picked for several reasons, including it being a landmark in the city of Denver. Saken also said the exhibits, space and appropriateness of the venue contributed to its selection.

Saken said the venue was appropriate as House Speaker Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus) is the first African American Ohio House leader. The venue features several exhibits, including a walk-through history of the African American experience.

Tables are set up in a room featuring the quilts selected from the Rocky Mountain Wa Shonaji Quilt Guild. The guild was formed in 1994 by "a group of five African American women interested in perpetuating the heritage of quilting.

The walk-through exhibit recounts the history of the African American experience in Denver and throughout the West, including culture, music and art along Welton Street through the years. Welton Street is home to the library.

DENVER - Ohio state Sen. Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard) confirmed to PolitickerOH.com that she is not running for U.S. Senate in 2010.

In a short talk at the Curtis Hotel in Denver, Cafaro reiterated adamently that she was not running for Senate.

"I am not running for Senate," she said emphatically. "I am not running for Senate."

Cafaro was referring to several posts on PolitickerOH.com's Inside Edge speculating about a possible challenge from Cafaro to U.S. Sen. George Voinovich.

The Ohio delegation to the Democratic National Convention is kicking off its week in Denver downtown at the Curtis Hotel this morning with a breakfast featuring speakers Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain) and Treasurer Richard Cordray, the Democratic candidate for Ohio Attorney General.

After the breakfast, the delegation will have a Bloody Mary reception in the lobby of the hotel just a block down the street from Denver's convention center.

After that, delegates can enjoy the Ohio Democratic Party boxed lunch, or head over to the Ohio House Democratic Caucus Lunch reception. Participants can then shuttle back and forth to the Pepsi Center, enjoy the ODP's lemonade stand in the Curtis lobby, and later, join fellow Ohioans for the Convention Watch party.

The ODP will host an ODP post gavel event at ESPN zone tonight, and later hold a "Scotch & Cigar" reception starting at midnight.

PolitickerOH.com will be with the delegation throughout the day, and will be updating with developments.

In today's Inside Edge, Wally takes up the, biased, slanted coverage of the Democratic National Convention held in Denver 100 years ago. Yes, Wally even has opinions on that.  

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean: Getty Images PhotoAfter Democrats prepare to choose their presidential nominee at the party's national convention in Denver in August, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, the party's chairman, will likely be replaced with someone from the camp of the presumptive presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). 

This is natural and has very little to do with Dean's performance over his tenure at the DNC. While the national Democratic leadership had to muzzle him, to his credit he went along and kept a low profile by staying off all the national talk shows and instead focused on the core mission of growing the grassroots and fundraising machines of the party.