Washington - Gov. Bill Owens is one of three top Republicans in charge of writing the party's platform at the GOP national convention in August, a position of trust that could earn him a speaking role at the New York political extravaganza. Owens was asked by Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman to serve as a co-chairman of the platform committee, said Owens spokesman Dan Hopkins. "This is a good opportunity for Colorado and the West to provide input into the national platform," Hopkins said.
At each convention, the platform chair includes a senator, a representative and a governor, with the chairmanship rotating among the different roles. Senate President Bill Frist, R-Tenn., will be the chairman. Owens' role is a job given to trusted party figures to ensure that the platform-writing process goes smoothly, experts say. The process can be tedious, but sometimes single-issue activists - abortion opponents, for example - can start fights over issues.
"Platforms can get nominees in real trouble," said Larry Sabato, political scientist at the University of Virginia. "Both parties have taken turns writing suicide notes in their platforms." The job also could lead to a speaking role at the convention, Sabato said. "It's a prestigious appointment."
Owens' aspirations for a higher office, such as a Cabinet post in a second Bush term or even a run for the presidency, are widely discussed. Jennifer Duffy, analyst with The Cook Political Report, said Owens' platform role isn't a launching pad for those ambitions so much as a résumé-builder.
"It's one more chit," Duffy said. "I don't think a cabinet role is out of the question."
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~29805~2234044,00.html
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