Delegates rave about political access, Howard Dean

DENVER -- When Howard Dean dropped in on the Washington delegation this morning, it made the highlight reel for at least two local convention-goers. Shanna Sawtzki and Jen Hauseman, both Obama delegates from Seattle, pointed to Dean's visit as the best thing that had happened to them so far in their still fledgling trip to the Mile High City.

Jen Hauseman shows off her Obama buttonIt is Sawatzki's second convention as a visitor, her husband was a Dean delegate in Boston in 2004, and her first as a delegate herself. Hauseman, who has been a strong grassroots supporter for Obama this season by making more than 50,000 buttons and traveling to swing states like Pennsylvania to hand them out, has never been to a national convention before.

"When Howard Dean showed up, that was thrilling," Hauseman said. "We liked how he applied his 50-state strategy to Washington."

Sawatzki agreed with Hauseman's assessment of Dean's local tie-ins.

"It was really nice that he had the familiarity to know the challenges we have with Eastern Washington," Sawatzki continued about Democrats struggle to elect candidates on the dry side of the mountains. "And to have him talk about Gregoire and the importance of re-electing her...I love Howie!"

Sawatzki also felt that proximity to elected officials was another of the key draws of the convention. She  raved about "how accessible it is for us to talk to our legislators and see that they are real people" and added "It is so neat to have the Arizona governor here," Sawatzki added.

With three more days remaining, the list of accessible candidates can only grow.

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