Wide-eyed and hopeful

Not many people can say with certainly that they are poised to be a part of history, but such is the case for the 4,440 delegates who will assemble in Denver next week for the Democratic National Convention.

As a certified hotbed of Democratic politics, Massachusetts stands to be wellrepresented. Its delegation includes its share of veterans of Democratic politics. But the convention will also be a new experience for many delegates, reflecting a campaign that has inspired many to new levels of activity.

At least one is gripped by anticipation. Giovanna Negretti is an established Latina activist, but first-time delegate, who found herself caught up in the drama of the Democratic primaries and the personal magnetism of Senator Barack Obama. As she was preparing to head to Denver yesterday, her excitement was palpable.

"He inspired me," Negretti said yesterday. "I wanted to be a delegate because this is going to be a historic convention and I wanted to be a part of it."

Negretti is executive director of the statewide Latino political organization ¿Oiste? She was elected on a slate of delegates that included Councilor Michael P. Ross and state Representative Gloria Fox. They made a point of assembling a diverse group to run together.

While it is fashionable to dismiss conventions as prime time pep rallies, for delegates they are opportunities to get a firsthand look at the party to which they have pledged their allegiance. Of course, it is also a time to build the momentum that, they hope, will carry the candidate to victory.

"I want to see where our party is really at, and I want to be part of unifying the party," Negretti said.

If the national press is to be believed, unity could be an uphill battle. Senator Hillary Clinton's appearance figures to be one of the most important moments of the convention, even for some who did not support her.

"As a woman, I think she rocks," Negretti said. "When she speaks and when she releases her delegates to Obama, she is going to ride so high as a woman and as a leader in our country."

Mending fences with Clinton supporters is not Obama's only work at the convention. Negretti has watched with dismay as his campaign has struggled to claim the affection of Latino voters, a problem Negretti blames largely on inadequate outreach.

"His campaign has not reached into their pocket and invested in our communities," she said, pointing to Obama's weak showing in the Puerto Rico primary as evidence. "The first thing I want to do is find as many Latinos as I can and try to bring them around."

Negretti said she and some of her longtime allies had to stop talking about the election because they supported different candidates so passionately. "Most of my friends were not [with Obama], and many of them are not there yet," she said.

John Walsh, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, heaped praise on Negretti, calling her a future leader of the party. "She represents a new generation of leadership in our party," he said. "It is a generation that has earned their spot through their organizing and ability to bring people together."

Obama figures to carry Massachusetts easily, but if past campaigns are any indication, politically active people will be hard at work in other states as the election approaches. Negretti looks forward to working for the Democratic ticket elsewhere, especially in states with a substantial Latino population.

But first, there will be the drama of Denver. In an echo of John F. Kennedy's 1960 nomination, Obama plans to accept the party's nomination in a football stadium. Negretti wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

"This is our John F. Kennedy moment," she said.

Adrian Walker is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at walker@globe.com.