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President Barack Obama’s trips to Denver and phoenix this week show the West will continue to be a central focus for Democrats as the 2010 and 2012 elections approach, according to a report in The Hill.

From the article: “‘They’re making sure that all portions of the Obama coalition are carefully tended,’ said Larry Sabato, professor of politics at the University of Virginia. ‘Presidents lose re-election when they waste their term. You waste your term when you don’t use presidential travel wisely.’”

Floyd Ciruli, a Denver-based pollster quoted in the article, said Colorado, in particular, will be a crucial test of the West’s new Democratic tilt, with the seats of U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Gov. Bill Ritter and Congresswoman Betsy Markey, D-Colo., up for grabs next year.

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*Obama photo from the Associated Press.