Dems in Denver

The 2008 presidential race has already made Sen. Barack Obama a household name for even those who aren't involved in politics.

And, with the Democratic National Convention coming up Aug. 25, Democrats are hoping to cement his name in history.

Bobbie Duncan of Odessa and Chris Hightower of Midland are hoping to help the Democratic cause by attending the national convention in Denver.

Duncan, who's been to two conventions in the past as a delegate and a committee member, said she'll be on the platform committee this year helping write the platform for the Democratic Committee and the presidential race.

Duncan got involved with the convention after a friend put her name up for a committee. She said her friend called Sen. Hillary Clinton's headquarters and recommended her.

Duncan was then approved by the Clinton campaign to serve on the committee.

"It certainly is an honor. Very few people get on (the platform committee)," Duncan said.

She said she thinks the platform will focus on issues like health care, public education, energy, the Iraq war and possibly the economy.

"I imagine I'll get my two bits in the writing on the platform," Duncan said. "But we have to come to a consensus on what will be on the platform."

Duncan hopes if Obama is elected as president, he and the Democrats in Congress will do away with the No Child Left Behind Act, as well as improve health care.

"I certainly want some kind of health care for the people in this nation, so not only the rich get health care," she said.

There's no telling what will be on the platform yet, but from experience Duncan already knows what the convention will be like.

"It's organized chaos, as it would be with many thousands of people trying to talk to each other at once," she said.

And from the Tall City, Hightower, an Advanced Placement government teacher at Midland High, has been with the Obama campaign since February 2007.

He was elected a delegate for Obama at the Texas Democratic Convention in June when the committee he was on voted one delegate for Obama and Clinton each. Clinton's withdrawal from the presidential race later that month allowed Hightower's participation at the national convention.

"A lot of things had to happen," Hightower said. "It was a well-organized and well-fought race."

And Hightower hopes the opportunity to be an Obama delegate will help him with his future government classes.

"I hope it helps a lot," he said. "Now that I'm actually going to go to one, it's going to be actual knowledge. After it's all said and done, I feel like I should be pretty well-versed about what happens."

One issue Hightower would like the Democrats to focus more on is pulling the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Probably the most important thing is the conflicts around the world," he said. "I really hope that's one of the things that our country starts addressing."

Hightower hopes he can spread Obama's liberal ideology around West Texas.

"This area's very conservative, but I think there are a lot of people that like what Obama stands for," he said. "He wants to unite this country."

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> The Democratic National Convention is scheduled Aug. 25-28 in Denver.

>> On Aug. 25, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean will call the convention to order.

>> On Aug. 26, the convention will feature a debate and discussion of the party's proposed platform.

>> On Aug. 28, Sen. Barack Obama plans to accept the Democratic presidential nomination at Denver's INVESCO Field at Mile High Stadium.