At a fundraiser last night, Obama shared with his donors a bit more detail about his private chat earlier week with Bill Clinton, saying that the former president indicated he was bullish about Obama's chances in Colorado, one of the Dem-trending western states Obama hopes to win.

From the pool report on the fundraiser:

A collection of western states is changing politically, Mr. Obama said, which could benefit Democrats in the fall. That was one of the topics of conversation with former President Bill Clinton earlier this week, he said.

"I was talking to Bill Clinton this week. We were talking about Colorado," Mr. Obama recalled. "He said, when I ran the first time, it would have been tough to win if Ross Perot hadn't been in the race, but you've seen a seismic shift in attitudes here."

One other interesting tidbit: Obama also told his donors that he needs to improve as a candidate if he is to win. "I'm going to have to be a better candidate," he said.

Full pool report after the jump.

Senator Barack Obama arrived at a campaign fundraiser at The Broadmoor, a resort located outside Colorado Springs, shortly after 8 p.m. By fundraising standards for Mr. Obama, it was a fairly small crowd, with about 200 people filling less than half of a basement ballroom.

Mr. Obama was late walking onto the stage, in part, because a Colorado Springs police officer was involved in a motorcycle accident while riding alongside Mr. Obama's motorcade earlier Wednesday evening. Campaign aides and the Secret Service reported the injuries were minor.

A few minutes into the fundraiser, Mr. Obama announced the incident to the crowd. He said he had spoken by telephone to the officer, Jerry Orvin, who was released from a local hospital.

"It turns out he's OK," Mr. Obama said. "I called him and he said it's all part of the job. He's doing all right."

The fundraiser, which had a minimum contribution of $1,000, drew supporters of all ages. Like he often does, Mr. Obama noted that the Democratic primary lasted a long time. He hinted that he had aged in the process.

"I can tell you, the gray is coming quick," Mr. Obama said. "By the time I'm sworn in, I will look the part."

Mr. Obama spoke for less than 20 minutes, reprising familiar themes of his speeches. He said Democrats should not be worried that he and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton - and their supporters - would allow any resentment to carry over into the fall campaign.

"We put that to rest in Unity, New Hampshire last week," Mr. Obama said. As he continued his praise of Mrs. Clinton, a woman in the crowd yelled, "Thank you!"

The fundraiser comes as Mr. Obama is on a weeklong tour of red states. He said he was asked by a local television reporter earlier in the day why he was bothering to come to Colorado, which President Bush won the last two cycles.

"It may have been Woody Allen who said 90 percent of success is showing up," Mr. Obama said. "If I didn't show up, I wouldn't get many votes around here. If I did show up, I might get something going."

A collection of western states is changing politically, Mr. Obama said, which could benefit Democrats in the fall. That was one of the topics of conversation with former President Bill Clinton earlier this week, he said.

"I was talking to Bill Clinton this week. We were talking about Colorado," Mr. Obama recalled. "He said, when I ran the first time, it would have been tough to win if Ross Perot hadn't been in the race, but you've seen a seismic shift in attitudes here."

But Mr. Obama told his supporters the race with Senator John McCain would be a difficult one. He explicitly asked for help and offered a brief self assessment of his evolution.

"I'm going to have to be a better candidate," Mr. Obama said. "You are going to have to make sure that over the next four months that outside of your family and your work, this is your project. If we all stand up and seize the moment, I guarantee you we will not just win Colorado, we will win the general election."