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When the Texas delegation arrived in Denver, their ride from the airport didn't whisk them off to a downtown hotel. Instead they drove in a different direction toward an industrial looking part off the interstate in Aurora- a suburb a good 45-minute drive from the convention center. Dallas delegate Neil Emmons says they had it coming.

Emmons: I mean let's face it, they put the Texas delegation in Aurora as penance for delivering Bush. You know the sins of our brothers and sisters back home. And that's fine. We still get into the Convention Center.

Even State Rep. Marc Veazey of Fort Worth struggled to find something diplomatic to say about the outcast location.

Asked if it is a sign that DNC organizers don't have much faith in Texas going Democratic any time soon, Veasey responded: "It's definitely not a sign, we're here in Aurora because our state has not voted blue in quite some time and that's why we're in Aurora. But you know, nevertheless, this is a beautiful hotel. We're all excited, it's a great view of, of, of the water over there."

At their 7 a.m. breakfast, some of the delegates were in fancy evening attire. Ironically, this was practical. They were unlikely to have time to get back from the convention center in downtown Denver in time to change for a 9 p.m. gala.

During the Monday night program, convention co-chairwoman Leticia Van de Putte had a brief mention - kind of. Howard Dean included her at the end of a laundry list of chairs.

Dean: "Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte."

The delegates watched from on high. They aren't seated on the actual convention floor or in the first tier of bleachers. But one delegate says they can see better that way. And at least they weren't in what concert promoters call obstructed view seats. That's reserved for the Democrats Abroad.

For KERA, Jodi Breisler, Capitol News Connection in Denver. © Copyright 2009, KERA