U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Denver), an early and prominent advocate of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign, didn't hesitate when asked what she thought of Clinton's speech to the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday.

"I thought it was a tour de force. Senator Clinton gave the speech of her career," DeGette told PolitickerCO.com. "I think that she really burnished her place among one of the stars of the Democratic leadership. I think she'll be a power to deal with."

But DeGette, who co-chaired Clinton's presidential campaign in Colorado, quickly added that she "was thrilled at her strong and unequivocal endorsement of Senator Obama."

DeGette said she took from the speech that "we need to pay attention to what have traditionally been considered women's issues but which are not -- which is pay equity, choice, issues like that. And that we need to take those seriously as a country.

"They need to be a centerpiece of our platform, and Senator McCain's voting record on all of those issues is abysmal," DeGette said.