Blue & Beaming
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By Scott Schwebke
Standard-Examiner Staff
FRUIT HEIGHTS -- Carlos Vasquez Jr. lives in one of the reddest counties in thenation's reddest state, but that doesn't stop him from proudly displaying his true-blue devotion to the Democratic Party.
A framed photograph of Vasquez, his wife, Lucy, and Howard Dean, a Democratic presidential candidate in 2004, taken during a Salt Lake City fundraiser sits prominently on a fireplace mantel inside his Fruit Heights home.
Next to the picture is a stuffed donkey that Vasquez picked up during the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.
Vasquez, a 34-year-old UPS driver, will pick up several new souvenirs and forge lasting memories when he joins 28 other delegates from Utah at the Democratic National Convention that begins Monday in Denver.
The prospect of mingling with other Democrats from around the country who will officially give the party's nomination for president to Sen. Barack Obama is exciting, Vasquez said.
"It's an opportunity to be with people who have the same values and want the same thing," he said.
Kelvin L. Davis, of Clinton, and Connie Nielsen, of Bountiful, also will serve as Utah delegates to the convention.
Vasquez said it isn't easy being a Democrat in Davis County, which has only about 8,000 registered party members compared with about 54,000 Republicans.
Still, he relishes the notion of being a political underdog.
"When you're the minority party, you tend to be vocal," Vasquez said. "It's good for us to be out there to help people who feel like they need a little support."
Vasquez said he and his wife are political junkies who often spend Sunday afternoons catching up on current events.
"We TiVo the Sunday television news programs and watch them after church," he said with a chuckle.
The two have six children and are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Vasquez became involved in Democratic Party politics after joining the Teamsters Union in 1996. In 2000 and 2002, he campaigned for Donald Dunn, a Salt Lake City Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for Congress.
Vasquez attempted to start his own political career in 2004 as a candidate for state auditor, but lost to Auston G. Johnson, a Republican. Since then, he has remained politically active and served as secretary of the Utah Democratic Party from 2003 to 2005.
He said a highlight of his affiliation with the party came in 2004 when he and his wife were elected to serve as Utah delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Boston.
The two were blown away by the convention's keynote address delivered by Obama, who at the time was a relatively unknown candidate for the U.S. Senate from Illinois.
"I remember saying (to my wife) that maybe he should run for president," Vasquez told the Standard-Examiner. "It was very inspiring."
Vasquez, who is officially pledged to Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, said he will switch his endorsement to Obama next week in Denver once Obama officially receives the nomination.
"Obama is very bright and very charismatic," he said.
While Obama won't likely win Utah in November's election, he may do better than some people expect because the Republican Party nominee is Sen. John McCain and not Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon, as is the majority of the state's population.
"I think people may be surprised (by how well Obama does in Utah)," he said.
Vasquez predicts Obama will choose either Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh or Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine as his vice presidential running mate. Obama is expected to announce his selection at a news conference today.
Bountiful's Nielsen, a 60-year-old who has been a delegate to three other Democratic national conventions, said she is pledged to Clinton because of her focus on health care issues.
However, Nielsen plans to switch her support to Obama and believes he is well equipped to tackle such pressing problems as the nation's spiraling debt and the loss of U.S. jobs to businesses moving overseas.
She also said his message of change is resonating with young voters, who are the future of the Democratic Party.
"Young people are really interested in him," Nielsen said. "That's good. Young people should be looking at politics."
Clinton's Davis, a 52-year-old African-American who is vice chairman of the Davis County Democratic Party, said Obama's campaign is historic because it has broken through the racial barrier and is gaining support even in predominantly white Utah.
"He's a candidate who has captured the imagination of America," Davis said, adding that he can't wait to hear Obama's acceptance speech.
"I'm proud to represent our party at this defining moment in history to give Barack the ring to be the next president."
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