Donna Branch-Gilby

DENVER -- In the upstairs room of a restaurant near the Colorado Convention Center Tuesday, a group of female delegates to the Democratic National Convention met to discuss the organization to which they belong - one they hope will become a new power in politics, both in Arizona and nationwide.

Emerge, founded in California in 2002, is a group that strives to "identify, educate and inspire Democratic women who want to pursue elective office at the local and state level." It offers training in "all aspects" of political campaigning, from fundraising to public speaking to Internet outreach.

The Arizona chapter was established in 2004, and since then has produced a number of successful graduates, as evidenced by the half-dozen or so members of the Arizona delegation who entered politics via Emerge training.

"Emerge women all ran a campaign to become a delegate, and they were all successful in their efforts," said Dana Kennedy, a delegate who is executive director of the Arizona branch.