February 20, 2015 10:19 AM UTC

Coffmans' split endorsements in GOP-state-chair race titillate Republicans on the radio

• 4 Comments
• by: Jason Salzman

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Conservative talk radio is the front line in the battle over who will be the next chair of the Colorado Republican Party. (That is, for the tea-party wing of the party. The front line for the moneyed side of the party might be in buildings on 17th street or something.)

In any case, Steve House, who's challenging current GOP chair Ryan Call, has appeared on at least nine shows over the past few weeks, including programs on KNUS (Peter Boyles), KLZ (Randy Corporon, Ken Clark, Kris Cook) and KFKA (Amy Oliver).

In contrast, I can't find a single appearance by Call on conservative talk radio in the past month.

Even when the candidates themselves aren't on their shows, the conservative yappers talk on and on about race to be the GOP chair, as if it's the epic battle that will decide the future of the Republican Party in Colorado.

One of the developments in the race that titillates the Republicans is the split endorsements of Mike and Cynthia Coffman. Congressman Coffman is backing Ryan Call, the current chair. And his wife, Cynthia Coffman, who's Colorado's Attorney General, has thrown her weight behind challenger Steve House.

Below is an example of the kind of erudite discussion you find on conservative radio about the Coffman situation and relationship, such as it is. (Recall that they apparently don't live together.) It occurred on Valentine's Day on KNUS'  "Weekend Wake Up" Show with Julie Hayden and hubby Chuck Bonniwell. The guest is conservative political operative Laura Carno (who's been crusading for powdered alcohol recently):

 Bonniwell: This leadership race for the chairmanship of the Republican Party is going wild! It's just going wild out there. And you can read all about it in ColoradoPols, which is sad because it's a left-wing site… It's a battle royale with Cynthia Coffman, who's the Attorney General, urging Steve House to run, and then her husband, Congressman Coffman, opposing him, saying, 'Re-elect Ryan Call.' It's just an amazing fight.

Carno: Yeah. It's going crazy. …I thought that the Coffman angle was absolutely fascinating.

Hayden: You have to wonder!

Carno: Cynthia Coffman is backing one guy. Congressman Coffman is backing another guy. And what does that household look like?

Bonniwell: It's one of two things: They say, 'You go on one side. I'll go on the other side. And we'll all be covered.' Or they're screaming at each other. One of the two.

Carno: Right. It's a house divided, in some manner. It would just be interesting to be a fly on the wall with those conversations. Interesting Valentine's Day.