DENVER -- Paul Tewes, the guy who directed Barack Obama's win in the Iowa caucuses, stopped by to see the Iowa delegation Tuesday morning. A Minnesotan, Tewes noted he's still got an apartment in Iowa and can vote absentee in November.

He told reporters Iowa is going to be a battleground state even with the sizeable lead Democrats have in party registrations in the state, thanks largely to Obama's caucus ground game.

He also said the campaign is going to drive into traditionally Republican western Iowa.

President Bush drove GOP turnout in western Iowa to claim the state over John Kerry four years ago.

"I think that Sen. Obama has demonstrated in Iowa and throughout the Midwest that he does play well in traditionally red parts of the state," Tewes said. "There are some counties that may have historically voted Bush Republican, we're going to go in there."

Culver speaks

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver got a chance Tuesday to speak to the convention. He was in a line of people who spoke early on. Culver's turn came about 4:30 p.m.

The governor hammered Republican John McCain on energy issues, saying he'd voted against renewable energy tax credits 11 times. Obama, he said, would boost renewable energy and crack down on "those who bid up energy prices for their own profit."

Culver also took a few moments to thank Americans who helped Iowans during the tornadoes and floods.

"We will get through this difficult challenge," he said.

All week, Culver and other Iowans have been reminding people about that state's troubles.

There's no doubt about what's on the minds of people in the Cedar Rapids area " even at this convention. When the Iowa delegates went around the room and introduced themselves earlier this week, Peggy Whitworth, a prominent resident, introduced herself as being from "flood-ravaged Cedar Rapids."

Respect

The passion and loyalty that Hillary Clinton's supporters have for the New York senator is truly evident here.

After the Iowa delegation breakfast Tuesday morning, Kathleen Krehbiel of Solon said she was disappointed because Clinton backers were told they could speak Tuesday. However, when the time came, she said, they were told since they weren't "official" they couldn't go on.

Tuesday's lineup of speakers included a line of elected officials, as well as Tewes.

"To me that feels like the rest of the Hillary camp is feeling, that we're being shut down without this closure moment that we all really need," she said.

Krehbiel is one of the Clinton whips who are on guard for anti-Obama flare-ups. She says she will support Obama when the time comes. "I'm going to work hard to get him elected, and I respect everything he's about. But I really don't like the way the way the Hillary supporters are being treated," she said.

There have been other reports of Clinton delegates feeling like they or their candidate aren't getting their due.

Brooke Borkenhagen, a spokesperson for the state party, said no promises were made and it was purely a full breakfast schedule that was at work here, nothing more. She said the Clinton folks will get their turn to speak on Wednesday. "No one's being slighted," she said.

Preferred seating

Where a delegation is seated in the convention hall is a sign of the pecking order of states. Iowa, which kicked off Obama's campaign, is in a good spot, up front and to the left of the podium.

Front and center, too, are Michigan and Colorado, battleground states and, in the latter's case, the host state.

Illinois is in a good spot, too. It's not a battleground state but it is Obama's home, of course. The delegates from the Land of Lincoln are on the floor and to the right of the podium. That's much better than the Illinoisans got four years ago in Boston.

Harkin signs

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, long an advocate for the disabled, signed remarks before he introduced former U.S. Rep. Jim Leach Monday.

"I'm happy to see so many people with disabilities here," he signed. "I am proud to have your support for the Democratic Party."

Harkin has signed at other events, but an aide said he thought it was the first time he'd done it at a national convention. Harkin is the author of the Americans with Disabilities Act and is pushing legislation to strengthen it in the wake of adverse Supreme Court decisions.

Harkin climbs

Harkin, by the way, is making the most of the mountains out here. He said he'd climbed his 9th peak over 14,000 feet. They call them fourteeners out here. Harkin said he'd gone up Mt. Sherman, which tops out at 14,036 feet.

Colorado has more than 50 fourteeners.

Contact Ed Tibbetts at (563) 383-2327 or etibbetts@qctimes.com.