Oregon Public Broadcasting

More than 200 Northwest Democrats are in Denver for this week’s  Democratic National Convention. They are delegates, super delegates and party luminaries. Correspondent Austin Jenkins has this preview of the speeches, the social events and the goings on.

The main job of delegates is to fill the Pepsi Center, clap and cheer, adopt a party platform and officially nominate Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for president.

But a political convention is essentially one big, giant party.

The Northwest’s 185 delegates will find some reminders of home while in Denver. There will be a screening of the movie “Battle in Seattle” with Charlize Theron about the WTO riots.

On Wednesday, Western issues will be a main focus. Convention speakers from our corner of the country include Oregon U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley and Portland green venture capitalist Nancy Floyd.

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire will sit on a panel with Michelle Obama to discuss healthcare, the economy and working women.

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski is not attending the convention.