DENVER -- Sen. Ken Salazar walked away less hopeful about Denver's chances to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention after the latest meeting Thursday, a spokesman from Salazar's office said.

Salazar's office said he has had several conversations with Democratic Party head Howard Dean at Thursday's meeting but that Dean expressed concerns over Denver's fundraising as well as hotel and security issues.

Salazar and other high-profile officials in Colorado are working hard to eliminate any concerns about Denver hosting the Convention, Cody Wertz of Salazar's office said.

"Gov. Dean, I think, would like to have the convention here in Denver, but he's asking a legitimate question and that is, 'Can Colorado host a convention of this proportion, of this size and make sure it goes on without a hitch?'" said Salazar. "It's our belief that we can, and our job here in Colorado is to convince him we can do this."

Salazar said he puts Denver's chances of getting the nod at 50-50.

"Looking ahead at whatever issues they have and addressing those issues and we are trying to do that, to make sure they feel comfortable with the answers on the questions he raised," said Salazar. "Do we have enough hotel rooms available in Denver, or do we not? What kind of security is going to be available, and how is that going to be paid for? Those are always very legitimate questions to be asked. At the end of the day, they all come down to whether or not there can be a quality convention delivered here in Colorado."

A decision of where to host the convention could come any day now, perhaps Monday, Wertz said.