Bashing Dem's bash

Seven weeks before the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Mayor John Hickenlooper finds himself in the crossfire on key issues, including protesters, downtown businesses and convention fundraising. "Denver's beer-brewing, scooter-driving every-guy mayor suddenly doesn't seem so populist now" given the demands on the city by the convention, writes Susan Greene. Hickenlooper says there should be no gridlock downtown during convention week that begins Aug. 23, but Dan Haley has his doubts. And Hickenlooper himself expressed frustration at the demands of convention fundraising. Watch the video and read his remarks here.

The national fight over an ambitious effort by labor unions to reverse their generation-long decline is about to come to Colorado — and to the race for the U.S. Senate, reports Michael Riley.

Sensing a pivotal moment, unions are pouring $300 million nationally into pushing for a Democratic sweep in 2008, perhaps $100 million more than four years ago. And a bigger chunk than usual is going to congressional races, especially the battle for control of the U.S. Senate.

The Pepsi Center hands over the keys to construction teams for the Democratic National Convention Committee at 8 a.m. Monday, and the on-the-ground, multimillion-dollar race to transform the arena into a convention hall by Aug. 25 begins, report Chuck Plunkett and Elizabeth Aguilera.

Standing inside the Pepsi Center not long after Denver won the bid, the facility's general manager, Dave Jolette, waved his hand at the vast space in something like awe, or maybe fear. "The transformation," he said, "will be enormous."

Below is a fly-by, from various angles, of the Pepsi Center via Google Earth.

Sen. John McCain will hold a town hall meeting at noon Monday at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, reports Kirk Mitchell. People can enter the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom to see the Republican presidential candidate starting at 10 a.m. Monday. The center is at 1101 13th St.

The latest Real Clear Politics polling average for Colorado has Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama leading McCain by five points. Obama spoke in Colorado Springs on Wednesday.