It was just the greeting we had come to hear: "Welcome to the Rocky Mountains - the new frontier for the Democratic Party," said Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker this morning from the stage at Memorial House, site of our sixth "Convention Conversations" forum. After DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry opened with an invitation for Salt Lake residents to participate in this historic Convention - through any number of avenues - Mayor Becker talked about the leadership that Democratic officials are offering at the federal, state and local levels across the region. He said he looked forward to the arrival of Democrats to Salt Lake's "sister city" of Denver and talked about the West's unique sense of place -- not felt in other parts of the country. After a series of thoughtful questions covering topics from the role of youth in the Convention to how we'll showcase leaders of the West and bring in others through technology to the best way to defeat "Senator 100 Years in Iraq," Mayor Becker presented Leah with a book on Salt Lake City and closed with some friendly words of city rivalry. "Be sure to remind your friends in Denver that once they're done there, they can come see a REAL mountain city." We'll do that, Mayor -- although no chance we're taking sides in this one. And thanks again for hosting us today!

UPDATE: Check out these articles about our visit to Salt Lake City!

The West is making its mark in the Democratic Party
The Salt Lake Tribune

Democratic Convention may showcase West
Desert Morning News

Presidential Candidates aim to Win the West
MyFox13 Utah