Election Coverage 2008 Disclaimer: This is an effort of collaborative journalism, not all information displayed on the map has been verified by NPR’s election coverage. KUNC along with public broadcasters across the country providing timely analysis  and in-depth coverage of all Election Coverage 2008.

KUNC's Convention Coverage Colorado Republicans, Democrats Narrow Focus to November Colorado Republicans are leaving St. Paul feeling energized and excited about John McCain's campaign - and his choice for a running mate. Their message to state Democrats now, is to watch out.  Listen Now McCain Reaction from Jody Hope Strogoff Colorado Republicans are energized after what many in the party considered an inspiring speech last night by presidential nominee John McCain. Colorado Statesman Editor and Publisher Jody Hope Strogoff says McCain clearly rose to the occasion - despite some difficulty along the road to Minnesota. She spoke to KUNC's Brian Larson immediately following the speech.  Listen Now Colorado Republicans React to McCain Speech Political activism has been at fever pitch in Colorado, which just last week hosted the Democratic National Convention. As a swing state, both parties have set their eyes on voters in the sprawling Denver suburbs, which until recently leaned Republican. KUNC's Kirk Siegler went to a John McCain watch party last night in Arapaho County, and filed this report.  Listen Now At the RNC, Colorado Republicans Focus on Strategy Colorado Republicans meeting in St. Paul this week are warming to John McCain's controversial choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. To find out more, and to learn what strategies the state party is crafting leading up to the hotly contested November election, KUNC's Kirk Siegler spoke with Jeremy Pelzer of the non-partisan political blog PolitickerCo.com.  Listen Now Colorado Delegates and Sarah Palin Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has been the topic of conversation this week among Colorado's 46 delegates to the Republican National Convention. They were surprised by Senator McCain's choice last Friday, but many delegates say they're on board with Palin. KUNC's state capital reporter Bente Birkeland has more from Minnesota. Listen Now Western Issues and the RNC If the Democratic and Republican National conventions are any indication, Colorado has cemented its status as a swing state in the November election. Last week Democrats said the road to the White House runs through the west - and Colorado delegates in St. Paul this week are hearing more of the same. KUNC's state capital reporter Bente Birkeland has more.  Listen Now. Western Issues with NPR's Ken Rudin The one thing that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on is that the road to the White House in 2008 clearly goes through the west. KUNC's Brian Larson spoke with NPR Election Director Ken Rudin about the importance of Colorado's 9 electoral votes and its status as a battleground state. Listen Now. The RNC and Colorado Delegates The Republican National Convention got under way in St. Paul, Minnesota on Monday. But with all but the essential work of the convention postponed - Colorado delegates had some extra time on their hands. KUNC's Brian Larson spoke with Colorado Statesman editor and publisher Jody Hope Strogoff about their day. Listen Now. RNC Delegate Breakfast Members of Colorado's delegation to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul say they're excited for the rest of the week despite scaled back events and last minute changes to opening night. KUNC's state capital reporter Bente Birkeland met up with the group during a delegate breakfast on Monday. Listen Now. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - DNC Recap and Look Ahead to RNC KUNC's Brian Larson spoke with state capital reporter Bente Birkeland about Barack Obama's acceptence speech and next week's Republican National Convention. Listen Now Local Reaction to Obama's Speech More than half of the eighty thousand people packing INVESCO Field for Barack Obama's historic acceptance speech were Coloradans - some of whom said they were first drawn to the campaign because of its grassroots appeal. KUNC's Kirk Siegler caught up with some members of Colorado's delegation, shortly after the speech ended. Listen Now Obama's Big Night More than 80 thousand Democratic enthusiasts flocked to INVESCO Field to hear Barack Obama's acceptance speech. People came to Denver from as far away as Tennessee and Florida. They braved long security lines, under a beating sun, just to enter the stadium. KUNC'S Sarah Hughes got some of their responses as they were leaving. Listen Now DNC Final Night Update from INVESCO Things are gearing up for the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention in Denver. KUNC's Brian Larson has this update. Listen Now Getting to INVESCO More than 75-thousand people will pack into INVESCO Field at Mile High Stadium tonight to listen to Barack Obama give his acceptance speech. The event will force the closure of more than five miles of Interstate 25 - so organizers of the Democratic National Convention are urging those who are ATTENDING - to leave the car behind. KUNC's Sarah Hughes has more. Listen Now Native American Caucus Earlier this week, we reported on the growing importance of Hispanic voters in swing states such as Colorado. New voting data released today is now shifting focus to the role of Native American voters in western states - and how they may be quote - a secret weapon for democrats . KUNC's Kirk Siegler dropped by today's Native American caucus to learn more.  Listen Now Western Issues and the DNC Democrats and Republicans have a lot at stake in the West - a region with several swing states like Colorado. KUNC's Kirk Siegler spoke with Montana Public Radio's Sally Mauk about how the convention and its platform are being viewed in other Rocky Mountain states. Listen Now Volunteers and the DNC Behind ALL the glitz and glamour of the Democratic National Convention - thousands of volunteers have been working overtime this week to keep the show going. KUNC's State Capital Reporter Bente Birkeland takes a look at the highs and lows of volunteerism for the DNC. Listen Now Kenyan Journalist and the DNC KUNC's Kirk Siegler had a chance to speak with the only Kenyan journalist covering this week's Democratic National Convention in Denver.. Listen Now DNC Faith Caucus Denver Police arrested several anti-abortion protestors on Tuesday - the same day that DNC officials hosted their first-ever caucus on religion. Panelists from across the religious spectrum discussed topics ranging from poverty, to faith based government programs. KUNC's state capital reporter Bente Birkeland has more from Denver.  Listen Now "Mock-upation" Denver's 16th street mall is a hub of activity - even without the help of this week's Democratic National Convention. But many were taken aback on Tuesday - when a group of U.S. military veterans who've served in Iraq and Afghanistan staged a mock occupation of the popular downtown venue. KUNC's Sarah Hughes has more. Listen Now DNC Energy Fight Renewable energy was on the minds of Democratic house leaders in Denver yesterday during a mid-day press conference. The only problem for those touting the benefits of wind and solar power - was a group of determined John McCain supporters protesting the Democrats energy agenda. From Denver, KUNC's Kirk Siegler has more. Listen Now Inside the DNC with Jody Hope Strogoff Unless you are a delegate, work for the Pepsi Center - or a credentialed member of the media, you likely listened to the opening night speeches from the Democratic National Convention on the radio. KUNC's Brian Larson spoke with Colorado Statesman Editor and Publisher Jody Hope Strogoff - who was on the inside - about the mood on the first night of the convention - and the closeness of the Presidential race in Colorado. Listen Now Hispanic Caucus and Hillary Clinton Democratic strategists say Barack Obama will need Latino votes if he wants to win in western such as Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. But some Latino voters in these areas remain loyal to former candidate Hillary Clinton - and they say it will take a fair amount of convincing, to move them over to the Obama camp. From Denver, KUNC's Sarah Hughes has more. Listen Now Republican Delegate Profile While Democratic delegates are firmly entrenched in Denver for this week's nominating convention - a group of 46 Republican delegates from Colorado are gearing up for their trip to Minneapolis next week for the Republican National Convention. KUNC's State Capital Reporter Bente Birkeland sat down with one of those delegates to see what she's looking forward to. Listen Now Colorado Delegates First Day Party leaders say Colorado's 72 member delegation attending this week's Democratic National Convention are unified in their support of Barack Obama - despite a drawn out and bitter primary fight between Obama and Hillary Clinton. KUNC's Kirk Siegler found out as much last night while mingling with delegates on the floor of the Pepsi Center. Listen Now DNC: Protests and Security Today is the official start of the Democratic National Convention. But this past weekend was full of political activity in Denver - and security was on clearly on the minds of convention organizers. Sunday was billed as the main day for anti-war protesters. And several protests, some planned, and others not, had law enforcement on high alert. In the first of two reports on yesterday's protest and this week's security efforts - we start with KUNC's Kirk Siegler... Listen Now - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - KUNC preview stories to the Democratic National Convention. Denver Wrestles with Image in Advance of Democratic Convention With a predicted one billion viewers expected to tune into Barack Obama's acceptance speech alone, imaging is everything for a host city. But Denver residents are split over whether the city should play up its folksy western reputation, or its emergence as a cosmopolitan city with a burgeoning clean energy economy. In the first of a series of stories this week on the DNC's impacts on the Mile High City, KUNC's Kirk Siegler has more. What happens to homeless during the DNC and RNC? The cities of Denver and St. Paul aren't the only ones gearing up for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions; social-service organizations are expanding their hours and working overtime to make sure homeless people aren't displaced when thousands of delegates, media organizations, and high level officials descend on the host cities. Denver's Past Efforts to Host DNC Next week, all eyes will be on the Mile High City when it hosts the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Denver hosted a similar gathering 100 years ago. KUNC's Brian Larson spoke with the editor and publisher of "The Colorado Statesman," Jody Hope Strogoff, about the city's earlier efforts to host the convention. Initiative 113 Follow-Up Ballot Initiative 113 seeks to end a 30-year-old tax credit for oil and gas producers in Colorado. Campaign war chests on both sides of the issue are quickly filling up. KUNC's Brian Larson and the editor of the Northern Colorado Business Report, Tom Hacker, revisit the initiative to find out just who the big spenders are. Sex Trafficking and the DNC Several non-profit groups in Denver and St. Paul say the upcoming major-party political conventions will likely attract some unsavory business -- including the illegal sex industry. As KUNC's Sarah Hughes reports, advocates in Denver have already launched an awareness campaign, prior to the start of the Democratic National Convention next week. The DNC Green Legacy and will it Last Organizers of the Democratic National Convention will trumpet their greening efforts at a big celebration this Sunday. Few elements of next week's convention have been as hyped as the attempts to make it the most environmentally friendly in history. KUNC's Katie Goetz looks at what lasting effects the DNC's green efforts could have on the region. 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