CHARLOTTE, N.C. — At least six Coloradans are set to deliver messages on veterans issues, student loans and the importance of women in this presidential race on the national stage at the Democratic National Convention, which officially starts today.

Colorado plays a more prominent role in this convention than at last week’s Republican National Convention, which didn’t host any Colorado speakers and where only one of Colorado’s four GOP members of Congress even attended.

All five Congressional Democrats from Colorado will be in North Carolina.

A common thread expected in the speeches delivered by both elected officials — including Gov. John Hickenlooper and Rep. Jared Polis — and three non-politician will be keep it positive and keep it local.

“In Colorado, we have a pragmatic approach and I think we need more of that in Washington,” said Polis, who represents Boulder.

Polis speaks for five minutes Tuesday between 5:45 and 6:30 p.m. MDT on the theme of “unity.” He said Democratic party organizers gave him the broad theme but let him craft his message. DNC officials will read his speech before he takes the stage, but the words will be his.

“People think they write it for you, but that’s not true,” Polis said.

Polis said he let his parents and his siblings read his draft and he was still tweaking it.

Hickenlooper’s office said the governor was, too, still working on his six-minute prime-time address Wednesday.

“The governor wants to set a positive and optimistic tone and explain why Colorado should stick with the president for the next four years,” spokesman Eric Brown said.

Jason Crow is a Denver attorney and speaks Thursday, the convention’s last day.

A veteran who did three tours, one in Iraq and two in Afghanistan, Crow will talk about President Barack Obama’s record in advocating for veteran’s health care. He also will praise the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

“I think it was important for the military and very important for the country, both in terms of national security and because it is the moral and civil rights issue of our time,” Crow said Monday. “I think he has used our military in a very smart way.”

Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver said this week’s speech in the 3 p.m. MDT hour Wednesday is her fourth at a political convention. She is was happy she got five minutes.

“I can really say something in five minutes,” she said.

She rehearsed the speech with her husband into the late hours at their kitchen table Sunday night. She said it reminded her of their law school days together.

DeGette said “without giving too much away” that she’ll talk about the Obama administration’s push to move forward on women’s rights — not just reproductive, but economic.

“This administration is working to take us forward,” DeGette said.

Denverite Maria Ciano will also speak about women’s health and abortion rights. University of Colorado at Boulder student Ryan Case will talk about the importance of government-backed Pell grants to keep higher education within reach.

Case, a senior from Chicago, is getting to be an old hand at these things. He introduced Obama in Boulder on Sunday.

Allison Sherry: 202-662-8907, asherry@denverpost.com or twitter.com/allisonsherry