Ed Perlmutter

Colorado's congressional delegation was split on supporting a $700 billion emergency bailout of the nation's financial industries Monday.

The split wasn't on party lines, either: supporters of the bailout included U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-Denver), Ed Perlmutter (D-Golden) and Tom Tancredo (R-Littleton).

U.S. Reps. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs), Marilyn Musgrave (R-Fort Morgan), Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs) and John Salazar (D-Manassa) voted "no" on the bill.

The bill, H.R. 3997, failed 225-208.

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter at the Democratic National Convention: Getty Images PhotoDENVER — U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Golden) talked renewable energy in a speech before Democratic National Convention delegates Thursday afternoon at Invesco Field in Denver.

“For the past eight years, we’ve had two oilmen in the White House -- and where has it got us?” Perlmutter asked. “We need a smarter, more sustainable energy strategy.”

“Some people tell us to drill here, drill now and that’s all,” said Perlmutter, in a dig at Republicans who favor increased oil drilling in Colorado and elsewhere in the country.

Instead, he said, America needs “solar now, wind here, wind now -- and Barack Obama as a leader will invest in new ways.”

“By developing alternative energy, it’s good for national security, good for the climate, and it is good for jobs,” he said.

Below is a transcript of remarks made by U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Golden) at the Democratic National Convention Thursday evening, as prepared for delivery.

At least six Coloradans are scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Convention this evening on the final day of the convention.

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Golden) held his own in high-stakes poker Tuesday night – for a while, anyway.

Perlmutter headed to Coors Field for a round of poker with, among others, actor Ben Affleck, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), and Perlmutter’s daughter.

The poker tournament, which required a $500 buy-in, raised money for Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Perlmutter won some hands early on. But an hour and a half in, his luck run out when he went up against a woman from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

Holding a king-high flush, Perlmutter said, “I’m think I’m going to take this gal’s money so bad. So I go all in, and it’s everything I have.

“And she has an ace-high flush. I have a king-high flush – I’m out of the game.”

U.S. Rep. Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs) will deliver an address at Invesco Field on Thursday as the final member of several Colorado Democrats to speak.

Udall will speak for about four minutes on Thursday about the spirit of individuality in the West and working in a bipartisan way to get things done, said Tara Trujillo, Udall's U.S. Senate campaign spokesperson.

While Udall's exact speaking time has not yet been determined, Trujillo said, he's slotted in the middle of the Thursday speakers' queue.

Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, convicted on bribery and mail fraud charges last year, asked Colorado Democratic National Convention delegates Monday morning to press their congressmen to find former Bush adviser Karl Rove in contempt of Congress.

Siegelman, who won national attention after accusing Rove of pressuring the U.S. Department of Justice to prosecute him, is out on bond while a federal appellate court reviews his conviction.

The former governor pleaded his case to delegates, encouraging them to push Congress to find Karl Rove in contempt after Rove refused to testify before a Congressional committee investigating whether there was improper political influence in the case. Rove has refused to testify, claiming executive privilege.

“A little over a year ago, I was in maximum security prison -- solitary confinement. Now I’m out and we’re talking about putting Karl Rove in!” Siegelman said.

Ed Perlmutter: Congressman, superdelegate - card shark?

The 7th District Congressman will join actor Ben Affleck and professional poker players Tuesday night at Coors Field for a charity poker tournament. The proceeds will benefit the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

And they're not playing for matchsticks, either: buy-in is $500.

"I'm going to be lucky if I last three hands before I blow all my money," Perlmutter said, laughing.

Speaking at the Colorado Delegation breakfast Monday at the Grand Hyatt in Denver, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Wheat Ridge) said America needs to move beyond eight years of George Bush.

Eight years of the Bush Administration have pushed America back “not just before the Depression, not before the Civil War, not before the Declaration of Independence, but I say we have reversed history back before the Magna Carta,” Perlmutter said.

Florida in 2000. Ohio in 2004. Colorado in 2008?

U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Denver) thinks so.

"We're there," Salazar said at a news conference Monday evening. "Colorado is ground-zero in terms of who's going to be the next president of the United States."

And Salazar's not the only one who thinks so. He joined Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, former Denver Mayor and Clinton cabinet member Federico Pena, and Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien in stressing how important Colorado will be in the 2008 presidential race.

The press conference followed a top-level strategy session at the Governor's Mansion about voter identification and turnout efforts in Colorado for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.