From Deseret News archives:

Women gain most if Obama wins, Pelosi says

Published: Monday, Aug. 25, 2008 12:15 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
DENVER — Women have the most to gain by electing Barack Obama president and Joe Biden vice president, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday at the opening press conference of the Democratic National Convention.

Pelosi, a Democrat from San Francisco, and the other three co-chairwomen of the convention — Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Texas state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte — spoke much about how Denver was picked for the national convention city because Democrats are making great strides in the West.

And Western women are a big part of that, they said.

However, Utah women must be behind the political curve, because Republicans still rule in the Beehive State.

In fact, in various presentations being made at this convention — which starts officially at 3 p.m. today — by the Western Majority Project, Utah isn't listed among the Western states with a Democrat resurgence.

One of the leaders of that project, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, told the Deseret News that other Western states have made greater strides in electing Democrats than Utah.

Story continues below
"But more and more people in the West are not looking at party titles, but at individuals," she said. She said that she has not tried to run away from the national Democratic Party — seen as more liberal than many Westerners — "But I go my own way, and I don't agree with the party 100 percent of the time." That's a statement that could be made by many Utah Democratic candidates.

Asked if she has tried to moderate the Arizona Democratic Party platform to make it easier for Democrats to get elected in her state, the governor said: "I'm not involved in the state platform. I'm busy running the state."

Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., said, "Utah is where we (Colorado Democrats) were 10 years ago. In 1998, I was the only Democrat elected statewide. Today, that has changed in a very comprehensive way," with Democrats controlling the governorship, Legislature, U.S. Senate seats and other key offices.

He said if Colorado Democrats can make such strides, so can Utah Democrats by electing pragmatic problem solvers. Salazar said national Democratic leaders looking at rebuilding in the West, including himself, "will never forget Utah" — and said it shares the same concerns as others in the West on issues from water to energy.

Recent comments

if they win they will control every office in two years. and the time...

joe doe | Aug. 25, 2008 at 8:22 p.m.

on the other hand if the dems take office in two years the 2 juditial...

pushing daisies | Aug. 25, 2008 at 8:16 p.m.

Whats happened with our STATE run social security? will state run...

pushing daisies | Aug. 25, 2008 at 8:04 p.m.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

Reading the letter, I am not sure that it is eating that is the sin, but...

The media that Sarah criticizes so much is the same force that is providing...

3A: Juan Diego's last-gasp play

We'll be back next year. I know it, and I hope that all of our coaches and...

Utah Utes whip SDSU

This year TCU has proven to the world how weak the MWC is (MWC=WAC). BYU and...

Secularists and religious arguments

I have no problem with religious people voting their conscience. I do,...

I have to agree that the comment about "the pesky seniors" is uncalled...

I was in my Latin class in High School in California. Our teacher hadn't...

Glenn Beck is Oprah's heir apparent since he has a larger following and can...

Atheist groups flourish on campuses

of atheism just as morally equal to spreading the Gospel of Christianity. To...

Yes, 40% of doctors polled said they will definitely or seriously consider...

Advertisements