Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama urged a cheering throng of supporters to make his campaign their campaign and to "take back their country."

In his first appearance in Denver since declaring his candidacy, the Illinois senator told nearly 2,000 people jammed into the Sherman Street Event Complex that America is a house divided between its people and a government they no longer trust or believe in.

"This is your campaign," he said in a nearly 50-minute stump speech that covered everything from education and energy policy to health care, the environment and the economy.

But the crowd gave its loudest response when Obama reminded them of his early opposition to the war in Iraq.

"I am proud of the fact that I was against the war in Iraq from the start," he said, adding he is just as proud of co-sponsoring a bill that calls for a gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq by the spring of 2008.

"There are no military solutions to be had in Iraq," Obama said.

He talked about a veteran of the Iraq war who spoke at a recent town hall meeting. The soldier had a gash in his forehead and was missing an arm and a leg lost to a roadside bomb.

As the soldier spoke, Obama said he looked at the man's wife and wondered about how their lives had been changed forever.

"I was reminded that politics is not a sport. Politics is not a game . . . The decisions we make in Washington matter.

"That's what this campaign has to be about . . . making sure that people understand that it's time to pay attention, it's time to be involved and it's time to be engaged."

Initially, the rally carried a $100-per-person price tag that was later reduced to $25. Several people, however, said they were able to get a free ticket after waiting in a line that snaked around the corner of the building.

Obama arrived about a half hour late for the rally, which attracted several Colorado politicians, including Gov. Bill Ritter and state Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver, who introduced Obama to the crowd.

"Two years ago, you turned Colorado from red to purple," Groff said, referring to Democrats taking back control of the legislature.

"Then in November, you turned Colorado from purple to blue," he said, referring to a Democrat regaining the governor's office.

"Are you ready to turn Colorado to deep blue territory?" he asked the crowd, revving them up for Obama.

Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer said the governor has not endorsed Obama or any presidential candidate. "It's very early," Dreyer said.

"I'm so excited," said Faye Rison, a retired professor who taught at Metropolitan State College of Denver. "Just as we changed the world with the civil rights movement, we're going to change the world with Obama."

ensslinj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5291