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CO-Sen: Romanoff to Challenge Bennet; Buck Out, Norton Likely In

by: James L.

Sat Aug 29, 2009 at 2:50 AM EDT


Lots of big moves in the Colorado Senate race to report.

First, comes the big whopper. After Michael Bennet appeared to succeed in deterring any primary challengers from emerging in the many months since his appointment, former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff is going to take the plunge, according to the Denver Post:

Former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff is poised to mount a Democratic primary campaign against Sen. Michael Bennet.

Urged to challenge Gov. Bill Ritter as he seeks re-election in 2010, Romanoff has instead turned his attention to next year's U.S. Senate race, sources close to Romanoff told The Denver Post. One source reported that Romanoff offered a campaign position to a veteran Democratic strategist.

Romanoff could not be reached for comment Friday night, but several people close to him said they expect him to announce next month.

Wally Stealey, a longtime lobbyist and political mover in Pueblo, said Romanoff called him Friday morning to tell him he had decided to run.

Romanoff was apparently under a lot of pressure from labor officials and activists to challenge Gov. Bill Ritter in the Democratic primary. (Ritter, as you may be aware, has utterly poisoned his relationship with organized labor in the state by issuing veto after veto of union-backed legislation.) It seems that Romanoff considers the fresh outta prep-school Bennet to be the easier target. While Bennet hasn't been awful in office, he hasn't exactly endeared himself to anyone in particular yet, either. This will be a primary well worth watching.

On the GOP side of the equation, it looks like the race is beginning to streamline around the NRSC's pick, former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton. With Bob Beauprez's drop-out still fresh in the press, it appears that Weld County DA Ken Buck is also going to pull the plug on his candidacy on Monday, clearing another obstacle for Norton. Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier is still in the race, but his fundraising has been well below par, as is unknown businessman Cleve Tidwell. Former state Sen. Tom Wiens may also make a race of it, but there's little doubt that he's under pressure to stay out.

(Hat-tip: Rtael)

SSP currently rates this race as Lean D.

RaceTracker Wiki: CO-Sen
James L. :: CO-Sen: Romanoff to Challenge Bennet; Buck Out, Norton Likely In
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CO-Sen: Romanoff to Challenge Bennet; Buck Out, Norton Likely In | 30 comments
Romanoff
Just curious, being a former House Speaker, how strong would Romanoff be in the General if he does beat Bennet? Would Romanoff winning the primary boost our chances of holding the seat or would it probably still stay as Lean D?
Depends on what you think is better
A mealy-mouthed, weather-vane, backbencher of a Senator who is a moderate or a sharp and principled up-and-comer who may be a little liberal for Colorado as a whole.

30, male, Democratic, CO-01
[ Parent ]
I say he'd boost it.
Everyone in the state seems to already know Romanoff while Bennet seems to be making a mad dash around the state trying to make sure everyone...someone...anyone knows who he is.  Hell, my Republican relatives would volunteer for Romanoff's campaign in a second.
[ Parent ]
Wow
Somewhat off-topic but still cool.

I went to do a Google search on "Andrew Romanoff" and for "News Results", SSP is the top site!

Good news
Bennet needed somebody to test him.  Presuming their views are similar, if Bennet wins the primary, good.  If Romanoff wins, just as good.
I agree
If getting primaried could ever be a good thing, this is the type of situation where it would be. If Sen. Bennet can beat Romanoff in the primary, he'll have a lot more of an air of legitimacy in the general election than he would if he was just "that appointee."

And, as you said:  If Romanoff wins, that's just as good for the Dems.

[ Parent ]
Now all we need is for
someone to primary Ritter's sorry ass.  John Hickenlooper?

34, WM, Democrat, FL-11
This is a primary I could support
May the best man win. But can Romanoff raise the cash?
CO
Would have preferred he primary Ritter who seems to be out of his mind.

29/D/Male/NY-01
Nate says this is win-win
I tend to agree, as long as they keep it civil. Bennet's biggest problem has been lack of name recognition and this certainly helps.
CO
Agreed, but I'm just not sure on why he chose to primary Bennet instead of Ritter.  Bennet hasn't real done anything wrong outside of being quiet, while Ritter seems to actively want to piss off the base.

29/D/Male/NY-01
[ Parent ]
What are the top hits list on Ritter's transgressions? - EOM

[ Parent ]
Quick and Dirty
(1) He has vetoed 4 separate pro-labor bills passed by the Democratic legislature.  He has probably permanently alienated Big Labor in the state.

(2) He is pro life.

(3) He appointed Michael Bennet totally out of left field, leaving Democrats having to defend a completely unknown local politician for a U.S. Senate seat.

I wish somehow Romanoff could kick both their asses.

34, WM, Democrat, FL-11

[ Parent ]
Yeah, no kidding
They both deserve a good kick in the ass, that's for sure.
[ Parent ]
I don't get all the animosity toward Bennet
Sure, he's a quiet backbencher, but ultimately he votes the Democratic party line. Other than the fact that he was appointed instead of Hickenlooper, what about Bennet irks the progressive base so much?
[ Parent ]
He's 46th in party discipline among Dems I believe
But you're right, it is his very existence as an electorally weak appointee that irritates me the most.

34, WM, Democrat, FL-11
[ Parent ]
Bingo
Bennet, in terms of style and gravitas, is what he is and it's hard to fault him for that, but it's hard to look at him and not see him as Ritter's folly. The fact that we could've seen, say, Senator Hickenlooper in his place is what galls so many of us, I think.
[ Parent ]
46th? Really?
Not due to any of the major stuff. Bennet voted yes on the stimulus package, yes on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, yes on the tobacco regulation bill, yes on public lands bill, yes on the Buy American clause, yes on Cash for Clunkers, yes on the national service bill, yes on the SCHIP reauthorization/expansion, yes on the DC House Voting Rights Act, the credit card bill. Sure, he's reliably pro-gun, but that's to be expected from a Colorado Senator.

I don't know where he stands on healthcare reform or cap-and-trade, though...he's pretty quiet, after all.

[ Parent ]
He's at 88%
But Dems have been a pretty disciplined bunch under Obama, so comparatively, that's not great.

34, WM, Democrat, FL-11
[ Parent ]
Let me clarify
Dems have been "disciplined" on actual floor votes.

34, WM, Democrat, FL-11
[ Parent ]
That's still pretty good.
Incidentally, does anyone know where Bennet stands on healthcare reform or cap-and-trade?
[ Parent ]
Generally supports
cap and trade and supports the public option.  He may be a problem on EFCA, however.

34, WM, Democrat, FL-11
[ Parent ]
Wow, that's kind of surprising.
As for EFCA, I don't really envision that passing. Bennet's not the only Democratic Senator who wouldn't vote for it:  Tom Carper, Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Arlen Specter, and even Dianne Feinstein seem to be against it. And unionization isn't as popular of an issue as healthcare or even environmentalism.
[ Parent ]
For me it's not animousity...
It's just that he's the wrong guy for the job.  The governor solicited opinions on who he should appoint and the hands down winner was Andrew Romanoff with Hickenlooper in second.  I think the only votes Bennet got were from his wife and Phillip Anschutz.  
[ Parent ]
Oh hell yes.
Good for Romanoff. Would two Senatorial incumbents picked off in Democratic primaries be historic by any chance?
1980
There were three, all resulting in GE losses:

AL - Jim Folsom, Jr. over Donald Stewart
AK - Clark Gruening over Mike Gravel
FL - Bill Gunter over Richard Stone

There was also a successful Republican primary that year:

NY - Al D'Amato over Jacob Javits


34, WM, Democrat, FL-11

[ Parent ]
Don't
forget, 1980 was a bloodbath for Democrats in both houses, especially the senate (12 seats lost) thanks to Reagan's extremely long coattails.

19, Male, Independent, CA-12
[ Parent ]
Yes
It was beat down city.  That election brought us Chuck Grassley, Dan Quayle, and Frank Murkowski.

34, WM, Democrat, FL-11
[ Parent ]
Zell Miller
tried to primary Herman Talmadge, who had been censured by the Senate "improper financial conduct". Talmadge went on to lose to Mack Mattingly.
[ Parent ]
Then
when Zell was appointed to the Senate, he beat Mattingly, bringing things nearly full circle.
[ Parent ]
CO-Sen: Romanoff to Challenge Bennet; Buck Out, Norton Likely In | 30 comments

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