Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, according to the LA Times, may be the "Latino point man" for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, but when he arrives in Denver late this week for the Democratic National Convention, he will not have a prominent TV slot as a speaker.

According to the most recent "calendar of events" for the California Democratic Party, Villaraigosa will have to settle for attending delegation breakfasts and caucus meetings just like the rest of the Golden State's politicians, with no scheduled face time on CNN, Fox News, ABC, CBS, and all of the other TV networks.

Instead, Colorado senator Ken Salazar--who, by the way, had a major beef with fundamentalist Christian leader Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family (Salazar publicly called Dobson the "anti-Christ" a few years ago, but then apologized for the remark), and may make things a little weird for Obama since he's trying to win over God fearing voters--and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will take up the Latino reach out effort and address a national audience.

Villaraigosa will be, however, a "featured" guest at a Thursday, August 28, breakfast honoring California mayors. Another mayor taking a few bows at the event will be Gavin Newsom of San Francisco, Villaraigosa's possible rival for a run for governor in 2010. It should make for a morning of heavy politics in Denver.

Contact Patrick Range McDonald at pmcdonald@laweekly.com.