DENVER - Everyone here wants to radiate a 2028 presidential gleam, which means even some of the people you've never heard of try to stare heroically into the distance while channeling Barack Obama energy when you're just trying to have a conversation with someone normal and real.

But that's okay.

Democrats feel like they've got a substantial shot, especially after last Tuesday when they manhandled Republicans for the House majority, significantly over-performing their 2024 presidential margins and turning red states blue.

At this "What's Next" conference in the Mission Ballroom, the party first trotted out congresspeople, attorneys general and mayors on its long list of scheduled speakers. So, anyone curious about prez 2028 had to wade through a lot of lightweights - already in hardcore audition mode - to get to the legitimate contenders.

Then they did a sit-down interview with Hakeem Jeffries, probably the next Speaker of the United States and the first black to hold the position. Activists in the audience got propelled out of the auditorium after they tried to drown out his answers.

Then the day's first New Jerseyan appeared.

U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) took the stage.

"I've come to see my job not just as a caregiver to my father but I've come to see my job as a caregiver to the country," said Kim.

The country is failing to remember what it is, just as Kim's father - suffering from Alzheimer's - fails to remember, the senator explained.

The junior Senator from New Jersey's remarks fell between Jeffries and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who this week launched a status quo challenge of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.

Van Hollen got a rousing hand here.

"I think this is the key question before us as a country - it's bigger than the Democratic Party - this question of trust," said the Senator. "Show the American people where we stand and if Trump wants to veto it and stand with his billionaire buddies, let him veto it."

Van Hollen's well received speech begged yet another question.

Who does Kim back for Senate Majority Leader?