Democratic National Convention

Democratic strategist Joe Trippi thinks it will be virtually impossible for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) to win the home state of his rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, but that it's worth his while to compete.

Speaking on the last day of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Trippi gave PolitickerAZ.com an assessment Obama's chances in Arizona, stopping short of completely ruling out an upset there but saying it would be "really, really tough."

"There's almost no way he can make it," said Trippi, "but he should definitely make an effort."

Trippi said a legitimate Obama operation in Arizona would send a message of strength, and could set up the Democrats to take the Grand Canyon State in 2012.

Check back next week to view my Convention Sketchpads from the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis.

DENVER -- The outgoing chief of staff to Gov. Janet Napolitano, Dennis Burke, elaborated on the roles he will be playing in this year's election when he departs the governor's office Sept. 15, after over a decade of service to Napolitano throughout the stages of her career.

When his departure was announced in early June, it was explained that he was leaving "to work on a variety of political campaigns in Arizona." None of the campaigns were specified, though. 

Thursday, Burke elaborated to PolitickerAZ.com on what his plans entail.

"I'm going to help out the [Sen. Barack] Obama campaign, help out my friend Tim Nelson, [U.S. Rep.] Harry Mitchell," he said.

DENVER -- Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley informed the Arizona delegates to the Democratic National Convention of a hidden talent Gov. Janet Napolitano possesses - she can play a mean tambourine.

O'Malley, Napolitano and a couple of other state executives had a jam session at the DNC gubernatorial caucus Wednesday night. The line-up included Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine on harmonica and O'Malley on guitar. Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer filled the room's prescription for cowbell, and rounding out the rhythm section was Arizona's own Napolitano.

"She wasn't rolling her eyes [while playing] - she put herself into it. Did a good job," said O'Malley of his ersatz band's tambourinist. Overall, O'Malley gave the group decent marks.

"Like the Patridge Family, but over the hill," was how he characterized them. "We had a good ol' time."

There is no shortage of second and third generations of American political families addressing delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Denver this week: Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy; James Roosevelt, Jr., the grandson of President Franklin D. Roosevelt; U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), the son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988; U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), the daughter of former New Orleans Mayor/U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Moon Landrieu; U.S. Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA), the son of former Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey; Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, the daughter of former Ohio Gov. John Gilligan; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the daughter of former Baltimore Mayor/U.S. Rep. Thomas D’Alesandro; Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, the son of former U.S. Sen. John Culver (D-IA); New York Gov. David Paterson, the son of former New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson; and Cecile Richards, the daughter of former Texas Governor Anne Richards.

Check back tomorrow morning to view my sketchpad for day three of the Democratic National Convention, and go to my national blog to follow convention coverage by cartoonists from around the country.

DENVER -- Sen. Hillary Clinton delegate and former Superintendent of Public Instruction Carolyn Warner issued a plea to her fellow Clinton backers to rally behind Sen. Barack Obama Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention.

In a statement circulated among the Arizona contingent at the DNC, Warner, a strong backer of Clinton's during the primaries, wrote:

"I hear women -- Democratic women -- who, as I did, poured their heart and soul into Hillary Clinton's Presidential campaign saying, 'You know, since Hillary didn't get the nomination...since Hillary was treated unfairly by the media...since I'm mad about how it all turned out...I'm either not going to vote or I'm going to vote for John McCain.'

"And I say... 'One of us must be crazy!'"

DENVER -- Gov. Janet Napolitano helped the White House Project, an organization devoted to encouraging women to take part in politics, celebrate its 10th anniversary Wednesday night by imploring the women in the audience to run for office.

Napolitano related her experience as a woman running for statewide office, especially her first run for Arizona attorney general in 1998.

"When I announced for attorney general, a reporter called the next day and said, 'Well, Janet, that's really interesting - do you plan to run as a woman.'"

The fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention will be called to order at 5:00 PM EST on Thursday, with a theme of "Change You Can Believe In."

The final day's events will take place at INVESCO Field at Mile High, where over 70,000 people are expected to attend.

Featured speakers will include Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D), former Vermont Gov. and Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean (D), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), U.S. Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D), former Vice President Al Gore (D) and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D).

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the Democratic presidential nominee, is scheduled to address the convention at 10 p.m. EST.

The full schedule is below.