I was out most of yesterday, so I missed the news that the Democrats picked Denver to host their 2008 convention, despite concerns about the city's ability to raise the requisite funds for the event. Smart move, I think.

The Denver Post reports that Gary Hart's 2005 white-paper on the need for Democrats to focus heavily on the West and Southwest played a large part in convincing Howard Dean to select Denver.

In the paper (which you can read here in pdf format) Hart lists 10 "issues of particular concern" to Westernerns that Dems need to focus on. They are:

1) The sanctity of property
2) Resources and conservation
3) Energy and the environment
4) Public lands
5) Recreation
6) Growth and economy
7) Technology
8) Mediation and arbitration
9) National security
10) Principles or values

Hart's last point is particularly interesting. He writes:

Westerners are individualists who do not like the beliefs of others imposed on us. We are people who believe in principles: integrity, honor, courage, accountability. The religious right preaches values. Democrats, regionally and nationally, should espouse principles, for ourselves and for our country. "Values" have religious overtones. Principles are humanistic and secular. Our domestic and foreign policies should always be based on the nation's highest principles.

Hart finishes by writing:

The national Democratic Party should look Westward. The South will return to the Democratic Party only when economic downturn requires it. Meanwhile, the West provides the Democratic Party's greatest opportunity and represents its greatest future. National Party leaders must develop a plan to win the West in the early twenty-first century or risk settling into minority status for many years to come.

All in all Hart outlines a very libertarian strategy, one which strikes me as holding some valuable lessons not only for Democrats but for Republicans as well.