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February 07, 2006 09:00 AM UTC

Salazar Endorses Ritter

  • 37 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Hoping to do what Democrat Bill Ritter has not been able to do himself, Sen. Ken Salazar endorsed the former Denver DA on Tuesday in an attempt to help Democrats rally behind the once-again frontrunner for the nomination. From the Rocky Mountain News:

U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar endorsed Bill Ritter for governor today, saying the former Denver district attorney is someone who understands the struggles of average families in Colorado.

“He has a track record second to none,” Salazar said of Ritter. “He’s someone I can call a servant leader.”

Salazar spoke on the west steps of the state Capitol. Some Democrats have resisted backing Ritter because of his personal opposition to abortion. Salazar said the Democratic Party has to be open to people who oppose abortion.

“I don’t think abortion should be a litmus test,” Ritter said. “The Democratic Party is the party of the big tent.”

Ritter said he would model his campaign on Salazar’s successful 2004 run for office. “We leased the same building Ken used to run his senate race because we believe the karma is so good,” he said with a laugh.

Comments

37 thoughts on “Salazar Endorses Ritter

  1. Meh, I think if Alice moves into the mix people like Be The Change and NARAL CO will be behind her 100%. They can do a ton of damage. Ritter is not great and I think the right wing knows it. They attacked the mayor of denver long before he was going to even run. They have been quite about ritter, also ritter cannot debate to save his life

  2. “Ritter is not great and I think the right wing knows it. “

    ………

    I think the left wing knows it.  e.g., NARAL, et. al., as you cite.

    Haven’t they done enough damage already?

  3. Damage, for standing up for what we feel are values to fight for. I think Ritter will win the nod, I worry he will be the person just like Kerry. Voting because he is the D to vote for.

  4. Ritter has talked before BeTheChange crowds and enjoyed a decent reception.  He was playing opposite Rutt Bridges at the time, and while Ritter didn’t reach out and personify issues as well as Bridges, he wasn’t bad as a campaigner.

    As we’ve seen here during his Q&A, Ritter has depth and is willing to be an independent thinker.  He’s beating Beauprez in the polls, and I think once name ID is raised on both sides, he’ll outpoll Holtzman as well (and isn’t far behind now…).

    Unless Lindstrom steps up and becomes a stronger challenger, or Madden steps in strongly, I’d say Ritter is the Dem candidate.  Ritter’s abortion stance at this point is more becoming a reason to maintain a Dem majority in the Legislature than a reason to vote against the man.

  5. At this point, how can Ritter only be given a 10-1 shot? He’s a moderate, pro-life Democrat who has all but clinched the nomination – the problem that type of Democrats face isn’t in the general election, in which his more conservative leanings on some issues will seem acceptable in comparison to the staunchly conservative views of his opponents, but in the primaries. But despite what Madden says, if there is a primary, it’ll be a joke. Meanwhile, there’s a pretty active intranacine fight on the right side of the alley. Right now, Bill Ritter is the frontrunner – not a dominant one, but quite clearly the leader of a crowded pack

  6. I think it has been proven that having the Be the Change faction behind you doesn’t get you elected. They have a strong voice at the convention but thats about it. After Ritter gets through the primary, his abortion stance will not have an effect on votes.  He may lose some fundraising, but having groups like NAREL behind you doesn’t help you gain bi-partisan votes.

  7. You’re wrong about that. NARAL has been more effective than any other single issue group in getting cross-over R’s to vote for D’s on the choice issue alone.  There are numerous D legislators sitting in even or slightly R districts because of this very fact.  Just ask.  And, remember how close Gail Schoettler came to defeating the “undefeatable” Bill Owens 8 years ago?  Remember the main issue just before election day, choice.  One of the main issues that brings R’s to cross over is the social issues.  With Ritter on the wrong side of these issues, what reason would disaffected R’s have to vote for him??

  8. I think it has been proven that having the Be the Change faction behind you doesn’t get you elected. They have a strong voice at the convention but thats about it. After Ritter gets through the primary, his abortion stance will not have an effect on votes.  He may lose some fundraising, but having groups like NAREL behind you doesn’t help you gain bi-partisan votes.

  9. Yeah but… The split in the GOP is along pretty predictable lines… The same division we have seen since the Considine fights of the 80s and 90s. There really is nothing new there except Draft Dodger Bob trying to pose one day as a hard core Conservative and the next as a moderate champ.

    Having a spokesperson for Pat Stryker say in an article last Saturday that she has a problem with Ritter is a lot different. The Stryker, Polis, Gill and Yates cabal showed that they can make things happen in 2004. To have them aligned against Ritter has the makings of another party dividing fight. The DEMs do not survive those kind of fights whole without some other unifying factor (a Presidential race being the case in 2004).

    Again, for the GOP, this is the same story but a different year. Our internal fights make us stronger… DEM fighting makes them weaker.

  10. What reason do they have in the first place?  The Governor has no effect on abortion.  I’m to young to remember the race 8 years ago, but as far as I can see Colorado has changed a great deal in the past few years.  History doesn’t always repeat itself in a state where people continue to move in and out of.

  11. I still believe that more people vote for a for someone just becasue they are pro-life then just becasue they are pro-choice.  Either way it’s not very smart to vote for someone because of one issue that has little effect on the way you live your life.

  12. Dem fighting can make the party weaker because of the many idealistic people in the party.  However those idealists make a lot of noice but they have yet to prove they can take down a candidate.  It didn’t work with Salazar.  Commonsence usually wins out because everyone votes not just the loud ones.

  13. Unless the SCOTUS gets a case that can redefine Roe vs. Wade… What if it becomes a States Rights Issue again? There are many “realistic” Pro-Lifers out there who think Roe can never be completely overturned in all 50 States, and so making it a State issue is the only way to address abortion. If that happens, well, having a GOV with a Veto Pen in hand who is Pro-Life can have a huge impact.

    The Lifers won this first round by having what looks like a Pro-Life majority in the Supremes. All it takes is one landmark case and what Ritter, Holtzman, the Draft Dodger or “whats-his-name” think about abortion rights suddenly becomes a very big deal for the Pro-Life/Pro-Choice crowd.

  14. Possible but unlikely.  However the chances of the next Governor having an impact on the economy, on education and thousands of other issues is a lot more likely.

  15. “Possible but unlikely. However the chances of the next Governor having an impact on the economy, on education and thousands of other issues is a lot more likely.”

    I agree… With that said though, I can see why every DEM wants Draft Dodger/Phys Ed Major/Small Bank Owner Bob Beauprez to win the GOP nomination.

  16. Well I guess if someone like Bush can skip out on his service then run a bunch of handed to him businesses into the ground then become President, then Ritter can become Governor.

  17. IM,  I think the current court makeup is still 5-4 in favor of Roe.  What changed with Alito’s nomination is that O’Connor’s vote would usually go against abortion restrictions, while Alito is a big proponent of chipping away at abortion rights piece by piece.  In that respect, Ritter’s potential stamp of approval could be vital.

    But even under GOP control the Legislature wasn’t really able to get anti-abortion measures passed, so I don’t think Dems have much to worry about in electing Ritter.

  18. Madden is really pissed off about this and I don’t blame her a bit. The Gang got together yesterday and, Stryker dissenting, agreed that the GOP needs a primary but Ritter doesn’t. I say it’s pretty fucked up but that’s where we’re at. This is going to be a real problem.

    Second: WE KNOW THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SOMEONE ELSE as a contingency if the B vs. H thing gets any more stupid. Okay? Stop the bullshit. I’m addressing those of you who know what I’m talking about, as opposed to those of you who only think you do.

  19. I don’t know or think I know, so enlighten me.  I’m dying to know who is waiting in the wings for a BB/MH implosion. Is he/she well known? Well financed?  Bigger than a bread box?

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