September 26, 2009 07:18 PM UTC

Romanoff v Bennet & A power shift in Dem politics?

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• by: RockyMtnModerate

A few days ago I got a call from a friend who is hoping to get involved with Romanoff’s campaign and asking if I could help her with any introductions or tips. The things she said and asked got me wondering first what in the world Romanoff is doing and then about some broader questions about the state of Democratic politics in Colorado. As I thought about both, talked to some other active Dems in town and watched some of the other things unfolding the past week, I’ve been wondering if there is a power shift in who the “players” are in Democratic party politics and whether those at the center of that shift know it’s happening.  

I’ve lived here most of my adult life and have watched the game from the days of Tim Wirth, Pat Schroeder and Gary Hart when Buie Sewell called a lot of shots, Mike Stratton was emerging as a player and Paul Sandoval was the gatekeeper for candidates in Denver to the more recent years that saw Tim Gill & Pat Stryker leap into prominence, Chris Gates & Rutt Bridges emerge then fade, Mike Miles rise and crash and Pat Waak bask in the limelight of the DNC and ’08 elections as Colorado turned a bluer shade of purple. As I watch things in the post Obama mania, there seems to be a silent struggle between those who have been the long-time activists and players and those who think ’08 signaled a changing of the guard.

The call that started these questions for me was from my friend who was told that if she wanted a job with Romanoff she needed to send her resume to Sue Casey who is in charge of hiring for the campaign. I vaguely remembered the name from city council but had to call some more active friends to find out who she is. I knew she was involved in Hart’s 1984 campaign in New Hampshire and was reminded she also was involved organizing field for Kerry. Some friends who have been trying to get jobs and others who are volunteering on Romanoff’s campaign (if you can call it that right now) confirmed that Casey is the point person there and when I pressed about what Romanoff has in the way of an actual campaign to go head to head with Bennet’s, I was told Ramona Martinez and a number of Latino leaders are very involved, that they’ve hired some consultants and that they have a lot of the Colorado Obama people volunteering and plan to tap into those activists and Romanoff’s own supporters to have an instant statewide presence.

As I thought about what I was hearing about Romanoff’s campaign I’ve been wondering if there is a more fundamental shift in who the players are in party politics, who really has influence these days and if Romanoff’s strategy is one that might actually work or if too many are telling the Emperor his clothes are the best in town.

No question Romanoff has some statewide popularity and can tap a lot of people who are less than excited by Bennet. If he really can reignite the Obama excitement among the activists and those who weren’t as involved until last year, he could be a force but his team is being led by people that I have to wonder if they are relevant anymore or have the influence they’d like to believe they do. Romanoff seems to be stumbling out of the gate while Bennet’s camp seems to be hitting their stride. Bennet’s got a competent team and although their most recent campaigns (HRC CO & Amend 59) weren’t exactly case studies in campaign success, they do have deep connections in Colorado politics and their people have been active in a lot of campaigns recently where they interacted with a lot of the party activists.

Some questions I’d be interested to hear people’s thoughts on are:

1. Are people like Sue Casey, Ramona Martinez & Paul Sandoval still players or are they last year’s or last decade’s news?

2. How much influence does labor still have in Colorado? On that topic, will Ernie Duran fade into irrelevance? Will Crisanta’s next move be within labor or Latino advocacy or will she move into more of a party-wide player?

3. Can Romanoff win with a mix of old school stalwarts like Casey and a team of energized activists statewide?

4. If rumors about Romanoff’s team and strategy are true, is it simply the best he can do getting in this late, a cunningly brilliant plan to tap into the grassroots who are looking for their next cause or the makings of Mike Miles the sequel?

5. Can Emanuel & Axelrod hold onto and direct the loyalties of the Obama activists or could candidates like Romanoff separate the White House machine from the cogs of the machine that put them there?

Not to attempt to “out” anybody on here, but I’d also be really curious as people chime in to know how long you’ve been active in politics here, whether you’re an activist, somebody who volunteers on campaigns, makes a living in politics or just a voter who stops by here for the entertainment and insider gossip.