Colorado’s tickets to see Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High were more than spoken for within about 24 hours, officials said, and the application process closed Thursday for all but those willing to be put on a waiting list.

Obama’s campaign set aside for Colorado half of the more than 60,000 seats available to the public for the final night of the Democratic National Convention. It turns out the battleground state could have filled the stadium, as the campaign ended applications after collecting more than 60,000 Thursday afternoon.

“This incredible response and excitement shows that there is a huge appetite for change in Colorado,” Anne Filipic, the general election director for the Campaign for Change, said in a statement.

The demand for the credentials was so great that phone lines were jammed much of the day.

Callers got an array of messages that suggested the lines weren’t functioning. A spokesman for the campaign insisted the hotline number was good but that volunteers couldn’t keep up with demand.

Internet sign-up went more smoothly, said the spokesman, Matt Chandler. Chandler also said the campaign’s Denver office saw a “steady stream” of applicants who arrived in person.

Shortly before the campaign shifted into wait-list mode, Sue Adams of unincorporated Arapahoe County managed to register herself and her son, Zachary Adams, for credentials.

Zachary turns 18 on Aug. 28, the day of Obama’s speech, and he plans to skip school that day to register to vote and try to attend Obama’s speech.

His mother says he is a “huge” Obama supporter.

Last year’s birthday present was a mandolin. Sue Adams hopes this year’s is a seat at Invesco.

Information on how the sign-up process was going outside of Colorado wasn’t immediately available.

Campaign officials will start contacting applicants Tuesday and screen them to make sure those who say they will attend have actual plans and the ability to do so. Any rejected applications or awarded credentials that haven’t been claimed by Aug. 20 will go to those on the waiting list.

The huge demand could entice some to try to sell their tickets, but the Obama campaign said it will closely track the bar codes on tickets and any ticket up for sale will be deactivated.

Chuck Plunkett: 303-954-1333 or cplunkett@denverpost.com