Welcome to Denver, Democratic delegates. You're off to a good start: Only 34 percent of this state's population is indifferent to your presence. The fact that the rest of Coloradans, according to a recent Rocky Mountain News/CBS4 News poll, are "interested" in your convention (20 percent), "excited" (15), "annoyed" (11), "worried" (9) or actually "thrilled" (9) is a tribute to the importance of national politics this year.

And no doubt also to the historic nature of your party's nominee, Sen. Barack Obama.

Because, let's face it: Your convention, like every other one in recent years, will amount to orchestrated political theater, with all the spontaneity of a synchronized diving routine. Yet Americans will watch with fascination because they know something big is afoot - a contest between candidates who wish to lead the most powerful nation in the world. Even political theater can provide valuable clues about the intentions and character of our would-be leaders. As visitors - and also tourists - you will no doubt hear a lot of loose talk this week from well-intentioned local hosts and convention speakers about "Western values," the frontier attitudes of self-reliance, independence, openness and live-and-let-live. Don't believe that hooey for a minute. Most Coloradans' cultural memory of the frontier is no more vivid than yours is - and in case you hadn't noticed, most of us reside in cities anyway.

Sure, some Coloradans live on ranches settled by their forebears, with vistas that could have migrated out of postcards, but the Rocky Mountain West is highly urbanized, and teems with transplants from other states and countries. We've got our healthy share of self-reliant mavericks, thank goodness, but there's no reason to believe they're more numerous here than in most states.

For that matter, Coloradans follow mostly the same issues as the rest of America. Special Western issues such as scarce water and precious public lands are important, and certainly keep our lawmakers busy, but suffice it to say that Coloradans would generally rather talk about the economy, war and price of energy. If you've never heard of the Colorado River Compact, we're not about to hold it against you.

It's not that we're inclined to stint on praise for this state. You already know, we're guessing, that Colorado is one of the nation's most stunning states in terms of geography, that its climate - despite the contrary evidence of a few Monday Night Football games - is magnificent, and that our population is fit (leanest in the land), highly educated and locally engaged. We draw the line, though, at claiming any special virtues for this state's citizens given the frequency that similar boasts have come back to haunt those who made them.

As you know, Colorado has been inching into new territory on the color spectrum, forsaking bright red for purple, and maybe even leaning toward blue. And this despite more than 40 years of rejecting the Democratic presidential candidate on all but one occasion. There is heady opportunity in the air for Democrats, and your presence here is part of the strategy by which party leaders hope to nudge Colorado into the "D" column come Nov. 4.

Not that we mind our hospitality being exploited in this way. We asked for it. We sought it. We're glad to have you here. Besides, your presence is an affirmation of the vitality of this region. And while our editorial page may not exactly lean to the left, we're suckers for an event that boasts such impressive democratic roots - and that promises to make history in the bargain.