U.S. Senate See Full Big Line

(D) J. Hickenlooper*

(R) Somebody

80%

20%

Governor See Full Big Line
(D) Phil Weiser

(D) Joe Neguse

(D) Jena Griswold

60%

60%

40%↓

Att. General See Full Big Line

(D) M. Dougherty

(D) Alexis King

(D) Brian Mason

40%

40%

30%

Sec. of State See Full Big Line
(D) A. Gonzalez

(D) George Stern

(R) Sheri Davis

50%↑

40%

30%

State Treasurer See Full Big Line

(D) Brianna Titone

(R) Kevin Grantham

(D) Jerry DiTullio

60%

30%

20%

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

(R) Somebody

90%

2%

CO-02 (Boulder-ish) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse*

(R) Somebody

90%

2%

CO-03 (West & Southern CO) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Hurd*

(D) Somebody

80%

40%

CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado) See Full Big Line

(R) Lauren Boebert*

(D) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Crank*

(D) Somebody

80%

20%

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

(R) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) B. Pettersen*

(R) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-08 (Northern Colo.) See Full Big Line

(R) Gabe Evans*

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(D) Joe Salazar

50%

40%

40%

State Senate Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

80%

20%

State House Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

95%

5%

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
April 18, 2007 08:36 PM UTC

Two Democrats Eyeing Musgrave

  • 58 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

From Colorado Confidential:

The list starts with Paccione, and according to a longtime Larimer County Democrat and volunteer for Paccione’s 2006 campaign: “She’s 95 percent in the race. My gut feeling is that she is going to run.

“I think she’s going to come forward sometime in the next 30 days.”

This Democratic source, who wished to remain anonymous speaking about potential candidates in CD-4, says that Paccione would start over fresh and has already decided that if she runs, “About 90 percent of the people who were involved with her last campaign will not be back.”

The other name to watch in CD-4 is Betsy Markey, Regional Director for Sen. Ken Salazar’s North Central office.

“I think Salazar really is pushing her, to be honest,” says the source. “She hasn’t denied that she’s looking at it, and I’ve noticed her getting involved in some stuff.”

In addition to working for Salazar, Markey does have strong local ties; she was the 2004 Chair of the Larimer County Democrats.

Tweet
Share

Comments

58 thoughts on “Two Democrats Eyeing Musgrave”

  1. First, she barely loses to the incumbent who had a great deal more money and backing. But now, some are saying that she is going to run but without the the bulk of the ppl who helped her? Am I to understand that she picked wrong ppl from the git-go? Or that she is ungrateful for their help? How does this make her different than Marilyn? I guess that since I no longer live in that district, then I should not ask these questions. But still….

    2. It wasnt Angie’s staff that was the problem it was the 3rd party.  Angie’s staff did a great job of portraying Angie as someone who was upset w/ the current status of things and was going to do something about it. 
      Take out Eric “What party am I today?” Eidsness and Angie won hands down. 

    3. Her staff worked their hearts out, but they didn’t have the experiance to know what to do in a close campaign.  They made a lot of mistakes that could have cost her the race.  For example their field program was horrible.  I volunteered for her in the last final push and she didn’t have any ID’s.  They were calling likely dems which means they hadn’t been id’ing people all along.  An aggressive field program can easily push a campaign 3-5%.  In this case it would have made the difference.

  2. Having just won the majority in the U.S. House, the chances are the Speaker and her allies are going to concentrate on pouring resources into preserving their newly elected rookies, e.g. Perlmutter and the class of ’06, and not go looking for “pick ups” like the 4th C.D.  If there is a “new face” with a reputable poll that shows a better result against Musgrave than Angie had, then the targeting may change.  But announcing in the next 30 days isn’t going to force any hands amongst the powers that be for Angie.

    1. Some money will certainly go to defending freshman Democrats, but I doubt Perlmutter will be on the big recipients list.

      Early fundraising shows many of the new Dems have raised significant amounts of “go away” cash that might frighten off would-be strong challengers.  This will free up some cash for new races – Democrats would love to have a few more seats, I’m sure…

      Among those seats will be the closest challengers of ’06; Darcy Burner, Eric Massa, and Dan Maffei have all signed up for rematches in their close races…  Paccione would probably be right in that pack in terms of possible pickups.

      1. To say that either political party won’t target seats is wholey incorrect.  Even in 2006, Republicans targeted seats, and came close in one (GA).  Sure, they’ll have a tough time holding on to some of their new seats, but that’s all the more reason to target others.  Both sides probably began drawing up those targets back in November of last year

    2. Are you kidding? They will definitely be looking for pickups like the 4th, especially with Musgrave winning with the smallest percentage among incumbent Rs this cycle…

      My question is why isn’t Rep Jim Riesberg going after this seat? He beat Sen. Owen by 18%. If a Dem can win or get close in Weld, they win.

  3. Why can’t we get a male farmer from the plains to run in this race??  Angie is old news and has too many negatives.  She was fresh and idealistic last year. Now, she has no chance. 

    1. So being a <> is the secret?

      At least Paccione’s negatives are old news now. With a new ad campaign she would have a shot at pulling it off, since she already has a huge national donor base and decent name rec. She’s definitely more viable than newbies who don’t know how to raise money and will have to spend half a million just to get their name rec up (before Musgrave trashes them).

      Musgrave is working hard to rehabilitate herself though, and she’s toning down the gay ranting, and the NRCC will probably go to bat for her again. If that works….

    2. Who and where is this mythical White Man Farmer we’ve been hearing about for years? Angie showed you don’t have to be a white male to go toe-to-toe with Musgrave, and a female candidate is better anyway, and it’s a disgusting assumption.

      85% of the district’s population is urban and suburban, and those folks are far more persuadable than rural Republicans.

    3. Co-Congressman Guy “Shorty” Short is really a pig farmer from Burlington that is in the witness protection program.  Be careful for what you wish…

  4. If Angie gets in it’s her nomination to lose.  No question that Eidsness was the spoiler last time and with him losing to Angie in the primary, it will make for the perfect storm for Angie to take out Musgrave and her goons.  Angie has the fire to win this thing if people get behind her.

    1. If the Democratic race comes down to Angie “$600 Haircut” Paccione and “Either Way Eric” Eidsness, we will have Musgrave for 2 more year for sure. 

    2. It is a mistake to blame Angie’s loss on the assumption that Eidsness stole her votes.  Before the election Dems were thinking that the “white male  moderate” candidate would take votes away from Musgrave not Angie!  No polls have shown that Eidsness took more votes from Angie then from Musgrave.  Angie’s lost because of the bankruptcy issue and the fact that she never explained why that happened

      1. She totally could have spun the bankruptcy issue in her favor.  CD-4 doesn’t have a lot of money so if she came out and took responsibilty for it, but then said I’ve had hard times in my life I know what its like to struggle so that’s why I support… she probably would have won.  I know its easy to 2nd guess and overall I think she ran a good campaign and I hope she runs again.

  5. Angie has too many negatives, and Betsy Markey can’t show she is her own person. We need someone who is independent of parties anyway.

    Eric Eidsness is the kind of Democratic male who will be able to draw votes in the rural areas that neither woman could do.

    1. Eric is an opportunist who would join the Minnesotan Vampire Party if he thought he could get into Congress that way.  You say he is independent of parties then you say he is the kind of Dem who can draw votes, which is he today, an independent or a Dem?  Does he know?  If so let the rest of us know too.  If we nominated a Republican in sheeps clothing to run against MM I would sit out this election.

  6. I know Angie and the reason the national party abandoned her is because she’s a horrible candidate. She has the fundraising prowess of a panhandler.

    I am not surprised she is blaming other people for her loss, as she never believes any problem with her campaign is her fault.

    2. None of that makes any sense, especially since Paccione raised almost $2 million in a race all the pundits wrote off out of hand.

      The DCCC probably pulled out at first because they believed a bad SurveyUSA poll and they were nervous about Ed, but you forget in the last couple weeks of the campaign the DCCC did go up on TV in support of her, as well as several mailings, and the DNC was buying ads on Christian radio.

    3. If all the Dems have to rely on this go around is somebody like Markey or Paccione, they are DOA.  Eidsness isn’t even a consideration.  Isn’t Stan interested in a “third time’s the charm” go at it, LarimerBoy?  How about Polis?  Doesn’t he have a place in the 4th CD?

      1. Paccione is definitely the most viable candidate, but Betsy Markey has been around for a while, and would have the backing of Ken Salazar.

        I’d be surprised to see Markey announce and force a primary, since it looks so likely Paccione will run. It would be a shame to have to see these two face off.

        1. What exactly does that mean? 

          I tend to agree that she is a novice and unprepared to make such a large step as running for Congress.  I’ve seen her around the state and she goes into meetings unprepared and not knowledgeable about her boss’ stances on issues, tries to wing it and its just embarrassing.  She’d never cut it on the big stage.

          2. I think Markey is the most highly prepared and professinal individual I’ve seen in local politics.  I’ve seen her in action and unlike many other she isn’t fluff and she gets things done.  You can’t expect someone to know the stance of the Senator on every ever changing issue; that is why they have issue experts on staff.  What she does do is follow-up when she doesn’t know something.  I think she is what the Dems need as a candidate.

  7. Marilyn Musgrave is a long-time Conservative Hero who has showed America her great courage in promoting Strong Families, despite the constant attacks from the RINOs and Leftist Taliban. She will never be unseated, so long as she stays true and strong to an agenda of PRO-FAMILY ethics in our congress!!!

    I know she hasn’t introduced her marriage amendment this year, but it is important that this IMPORTANT issue is not allowed to disappear from our National Debate on family issues. I know the Democrat majority is in charge of congress now, but if this issue fades then this most important challenge will be lost and America will be LEFT the poorer.

    Stay true to Real Republican Values, Marilyn!!!!

    1. Along this course, your margin of victory continues to decrease with every election.  Inevitably this course will lead you right out of office!!!!

      (note the requisite 4 exclamation points, Marilyn, so you know I’m sincere)

    3. I JUST finished listening to an old Goldwater Republican, forty years in the party, who has a book coming out.  “The Invasion of the Party Snatchers.”  He said he knew something was wrong when on election night last year, he was glad the Pubs tooks a whumping. 

      You, and Marilyn, are exactly the fools he was writing about.  Keep it up, the Dems will control American for the next fifty years. 

      Real Republican my ass.

    4. And, I fully well expect you intend to do so… maybe the people in CD 4 will start believing your mantra about Musgrave. You have a long ways to go though, to bring her numbers up from winning to an amazingly low 46% of the vote last election cycle. Good luck.

      But, even Pols has bought into the new makeover she’s currently trying on for size.  What does that mean anyway Pols?  “She’s seen the light and is more active…” Are you that gullible? Do you really think Musgrave has seen the light…?  Maybe like a deer staring at a oncoming car’s headlights?  Come on, it’s just different packaging, more proactive press secretary. 

  8. I have a hard time seeing on how more Dems from Larimer County can really make any improvements from the last election cycle…I hope they can, and I am a Larimer County Dem but Weld is what we need right now…kinda makes me wish Jim Riesberg would run or somebody like that.  We did get awfully close last time though so that gives me hope.

    1. Is this the same honorable state rep Riesberg who cheats on RTD? Ummmmmmm… SOMEhow I don’t think he’s congressional material…

      Denver Post article
      March 30, 2007
      Dan Haley
      Riesberg rides RTD for free

      Apparently everyone is doing it, according to state Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley.

      “Everyone rides free…I’ve had an RTD ticket in my pocket for years and it’s never been punched and I’ve never had to buy a second one and and they can have plenty of money to expand your parking if only they charged people to use the services,” he said this morning as lawmakers were discussing Senate Bill 88, which would allow RTD to charge for parking at some of its park-n-Rides.

      Well, not everyone rides for free, Rep. Riesberg. I’ve been paying $2.50 – each way – for years. I’m guessing most people do. Maybe if Rep. Riesberg validated his ticket at the station and then purchased a new one whenever he hopped on light rail, RTD wouldn’t need to charge for parking. (No one validates the tickets, or punches them, on the train, as he seems to think.) “I’ve never had to buy a second (ticket),” he said.

      It’s an honor system, Rep. Riesberg.

      1. Most people probably don’t pay like they’re supposed to. It’s not like when you go to New York or Washington and have to pay to get in or out of the train.

        2. And,if he couldn’t, then he shouldn’t have stuck his head in a political noose by announcing to all of Colorado that he cheats on his RTD rides.  I mean, how dumb was that? 

          Plus, he should have shown the depth of character to have done the “right” thing in the first place and simply paid – even if others didn’t. The point being, just because others are cheating doesn’t mean that you cheat, too.  Especially, as a state rep, he should be setting a positive example.  Announcing to the world that you cheat sets a negative example.

          He’s almost as big an idiot as Jim Welker was in the House.

      2. …some fear in these moronic RTD posts against Riesberg.  Riesberg’s point about dumb subsidized mass transit systems will not be lost on the voters in the 4th.

        1. Not that I recall.

          So a stupid rep makes a stupid comment about his cheating and that’s going to turn RTD on it’s head?  Or do you mean they will dump Reisberg?  In 18 months this is older and colder than Nicole.

Leave a Comment

Recent Comments


Posts about

Donald Trump
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Lauren Boebert
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Gabe Evans
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado House
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado Senate
SEE MORE

142 readers online now

Newsletter

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop with regular updates!