Colorado: Federico Pena

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and other Democratic politicians will appear throughout Colorado on Saturday in an effort to encourage Latinos to vote early, according to Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Richardson, state Treasurer Cary Kennedy, former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, and U.S. Reps. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), Joe Baca (D-Calif.) Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) will join other elected officials and leaders in rallies around the state before convening at Rude Park in Denver for a "¡Viva el Voto!" rally.

The home state for the Democratic National Convention will be well-represented during the next four days.

Shortly following the invocation which will be performed by former state Sen. Polly Baca of Greely, the Colorado Children's Chorale will sing the National Anthem.

Two Denver mayors have speaking roles: current Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) will make remarks this evening, and former mayor Federico Peña (D) will speak on Tuesday.

Florida in 2000. Ohio in 2004. Colorado in 2008?

U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Denver) thinks so.

"We're there," Salazar said at a news conference Monday evening. "Colorado is ground-zero in terms of who's going to be the next president of the United States."

And Salazar's not alone. He joined Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, former Denver Mayor and Clinton cabinet member Federico Pena, and Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien in stressing how important Colorado will be in the 2008 presidential race.

Former Denver Mayor and ex-Secretary of Energy Federico Peña has endorsed Will Shafroth in the CD-2 Democratic primary, Shafroth's campaign announced Monday.

Shafroth's campaign also released the names of 290 others who have endorsed his campaign over opponents Jared Polis and Joan Fitz-Gerald, including former House Minority Leader Ruth Wright, state Rep. Kathleen Curry (D-Gunnison), and several Boulder City Council members.