By Joe Hanel
GREENWOOD VILLAGE - Less than two hours to go, and Bob Schaffer is on the phone to undecided voters.
He's not alone. About 70 Republican volunteers are making calls from one of the GOP's major call centers in a south Denver office park.
"You get one," a volunteer asks as Schaffer hangs up.
"He's out voting right now," Schaffer says.
Schaffer knew exactly who he needed to talk to when he dialed. The phones here are linked to the Internet, and during a conversation the volunteers can add information into the GOP's national voter database in Nashville with the touch of a button.
Republicans are counting on this high-tech blitz to hold Colorado. If they do, they will need to succeed right here in Arapahoe County. It encompasses the populous southern suburbs of Denver, and until just a few weeks ago, Republicans outnumbered Democrats. Traditionally, GOP candidates figure they will lose Denver and Boulder but run up big margins in Colorado Springs. That leaves Arapahoe County as one of the big swing counties where, in the past, they have been able to beat Democrats and sew up statewide victories.
Schaffer says he sees more enthusiasm and sense of purpose among GOP volunteers this year.
"These people are really driven by a concept of what single-party dominance of the political system would mean," Schaffer said.
In addition to emotion, the volunteers here are fueled by pizza and pasta.
Meanwhile, a dry-erase board keeps track of John McCain's electoral votes. So far, he has eight (from Kentucky). Two hundred sixty two to go.
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