Republicans set up "war room" near downtown

In an alley behind a non-descript row of brick buildings on North Speer Boulevard, and on the other side of a large metal gate with armed guards standing in front, Republicans have set up a "war room" in Denver.

In this west side location that is not far from the Pepsi Center yet out of sight from Democratic delegates and protesters walking downtown, Republicans will be crafting anti-Barack Obama messages nearly round the clock this week.

Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan said the team of nearly two dozen staffers at the opposition headquarters will be "fact-checking" statements made by the Obama campaign and by speakers during the convention.

"Just consider this the Ministry of Truth," quipped Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Party.

The interior of the building is marked by trendy light fixtures and concrete floors. A press conference area is equipped with a podium and framed by a background that repeats the oppo center's message, "Not Ready '08: A mile high, an inch deep."

A satellite truck Republicans have rented sits in the alley, ready to link up prominent GOP leaders who will be at the center this week with TV stations around the country.

Republicans said a surprise VIP will be at their headquarters on Monday, while Massachussetts Gov. Mitt Romney is scheduled to appear Tuesday. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is expected there Wednesday, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is set to appear Thursday.

In the center of the ground floor and behind glass-and-metal doors is the space Republicans actually call the "war room." Television monitors throughout the room keep watch on news coverage, and staffers sitting around a large table work on laptop computers.

The war room looks a little like the set of the "Counter Terrorist Unit" headquarters on the TV series "24."

"We chose this for the space available," said Duncan, who added that price was no small consideration, either.

Duncan said the party had its first real war room at the 2004 Democratic convention in Boston, but he said the Denver space is much better than the party's digs in Bean Town were.

Liz Maier, the Republican National Committee's online communications director and one of the war room operatives, coordinates the party's main blog, gop.com/blog.

Part of her job involves sending opposition information to other bloggers, some of which she said are on the left. 

The party has set up a special anti-Obama blog: NotReady08.com

Alex Conant, the Republican National Committee's press secretary, gave an example of the day's work. pointing to Obama's appearance at a barbecue in Eau Claire, Wisc., earlier Sunday.

"He made a couple of gaffes that we were about to pick up and put on YouTube," Conant said. "The advantage of this (war room) is that we're all going to be in the same room."

Duncan and Wadhams said the choice of the location, with its alley entrance, metal gate and armed guards, had nothing to do with avoiding protesters. The protesters will find their way to the building if they want, Republicans said.

Besides, Wadhams said, "They're busy elsewhere."

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