There has been some talk recently of a new name in the mix for governor on the Democratic side if Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper does not run: state Rep. Alice Madden.
Madden would have to raise her profile in a hurry, because even though she’s been among the Democratic Party leadership for awhile, she remains relatively unknown to most voters. We’d heard rumors that Madden was looking at a statewide run, but not for a few more years.
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Stop already! Ritter can (and will) win, if we Dems will stop wringing our hands and looking desperately around for another candidate.
If anyone honestly thinks that Rep. Alice Madden, God love her, a Boulder Democrat who has sponsored legislation that would prohibit smoking in your own car, can win statewide, they are completely, totally, certifiably nuts!
I’m not even sure she could win Udall’s seat…
It will devestating to the Democratic Party to nominate Bill Ritter, given the shift to the Supreme Court and the possible abortion initiatives on the ballot. His Q4 numbers are terrible, proving how weak a candiate he really is. He’s not even close cash on hand to either republicans. Alice Madden is a great choice for govenor. I hope she gets in, because she would win in November
Any candidate that comes up for Gov – no one is happy with. Maybe the dems (and I’m one of them) should start concentrating on building a bench that means something instead of tearing each other apart.
That’s the beauty of a primary – we get to see which one will campaign best. Personally I think Madden would do very well – she understands the local politics of this state in just about every district.
Alice Madden would get creamed by BWB or Holtzman. You really think a female lawyer from Boulder can get elected as Governor of Colorado? No way.
Ritter can win. I’m not at all dismayed by his recent numbers – what will really be telling will be his numbers next quarter. Now that it’s clear that no other “big name” will be entering the race I think Ritter’s fundraising numbers will climb.
Maybe the dems (and I’m one of them) should start concentrating on building a bench that means something
agreed, it really does appear that the Dems have a short bench in this state.
I wonder who those folks are that continue to hunt for an opponent to Bill Ritter. And I am now wondering whether the issue is Bill Ritter’s position on abortion or Bill Ritter.
I wonder who those folks are that continue to hunt for an opponent to Bill Ritter. Is the issue really Bill Ritter’s position on abortion or is it Bill Ritter?
Frank Sullivan:
I think the answer to your questions is “Yes.”
Run, Alice, run!
Republicans haven’t had any good news of late except for “run alice run”.
Frank,
You hit the nail on the head. I don’t really care about Ritter’s abyssmal stance on choice. As long the Dems control the legislature we can keep anti-choice legislation out of his hands.
I do not agree that he can win statewide. He is polling slightly ahead now mostly because people don’t know him or his history as well. Once that gets more publicly talked about his numbers will go south very fast.
The fact that many (most?) Dems ARE looking desparately for someone, anyone, else says volumes about this guy.
Having said all of that, I don’t think the time is right for Alice Madden. Unless she has an extraordinary campaign already put together and knows where LOTS of money is going to come from in a very short period, I would recommend she not try it. If she wants to look at one of the other statewide seats, that may be do-able.
Mr. Willis,
I’ve been an on again, off again reader of Coloradopols for some time. Every time I see a posting by you, I can’t help but think that you have nothing else to do but pretend to have the inside information on so many topics.
When one considers that Alice Madden almost single handedly raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to achieve the near impossible task of taking the majority in the Colorado House, I’m certain that if there’s something that Madden decides to do, she’ll achieve it.
Colorado voters are tired of taking care of big business. It’s time to take care of the working family and Madden intends to do it.
I worked with Madden a few years ago and there was no one in this state that worked harder for the downticket. She worked tirelessly to win the majority in the house and don’t worry about funds she can raise them and quickly. She is a true democrat, though she will have to work hard to get her name rec up but it can and has been done. I would put all my weight behind a woman lawyer from Boulder who believes in my beliefs about choice any day. Run Alice you have backing.
If Alice Madden runs, it could at least get Boulder County Democrats to do GOTV in the fall again. With Ritter in, it’s already an open revolt.
If Alice Madden runs, it could at least get Boulder County Democrats to do GOTV in the fall again. With Ritter in, it’s already an open revolt.
Ms McAlister, you overlook the fact that sitting legislators have severe restrictions raising money while the legislature is in session. If Madden hasn’t launched a campaign by now, she won’t be able to seriously fund raise until mid May, very late indeed with the primary in August. She could, of course, resign her seat and run full time without those restrictions, but I just don’t see it happening. I disagree with Dan’s cranky notion that Ritter can’t win, but Alice Madden would be starting much too late unless she left the legislature and I just don’t see her doing that, she’s too involved in the upcoming session.
Seriously, what appeal does Alice Madden have outside of Denver/Boulder? How does she win over independent voters in Pueblo? In Durango?
She’s done a lot for the party and raised a lot of money but that doesn’t make her a a good candidate for Governor of Colorado.
And of course there are the fundraising issues that Voaygeur mentions. I don’t think there’s anyway she can enter the race at this late of a date.
She’s not running and even if she did run she couldn’t win.
Dan – what about Ritter’s story doesn’t play well state wide? The fact that he’s openly religous? The fact that he is a moderate? The fact that his legal background is as a DA and not a trial attorney? I think those are all pluses for him winning statewide. Is he perfect? No, but he’s certainly better than BWB of Holtzman.
If anyone’s statewide numbers are soft I would think they would be Hickenlooper’s. Also I really think that, fair or unfair, the illegal immigration issue would keep Hickenlooper from winning state wide. When Raul Gomez-Garcia killed that Denver police officer he also killed Hick’s shot at being Governor. The 2006 election will have be focused on immigration, the die has been cast and Hick is smart enough to realize this.
Dan, I would like to edit your sentence “The fact that many (most?) Dems ARE looking desparately for someone, anyone, else says volumes about this guy.” I think a more reasonable word for your word ‘many’is SOME.