President (To Win Colorado)
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(D) Kamala Harris
(R) Donald Trump
80%
20%
CO-01 (Denver)
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(D) Diana DeGette*
(R) V. Archuleta
98%
2%
CO-02 (Boulder-ish)
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(D) Joe Neguse*
(R) Marshall Dawson
95%
5%
CO-03 (West & Southern CO)
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(D) Adam Frisch
(R) Jeff Hurd
50%
50%
CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado)
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(R) Lauren Boebert
(D) Trisha Calvarese
90%
10%
CO-05 (Colorado Springs)
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(R) Jeff Crank
(D) River Gassen
80%
20%
CO-06 (Aurora)
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(D) Jason Crow*
(R) John Fabbricatore
90%
10%
CO-07 (Jefferson County)
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(D) B. Pettersen
(R) Sergei Matveyuk
90%
10%
CO-08 (Northern Colo.)
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(D) Yadira Caraveo
(R) Gabe Evans
70%↑
30%
State Senate Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
80%
20%
State House Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
95%
5%
March 01, 2008 03:30 AM UTC
17 Comments
I do think Dick Wadhams is a tremendous asset to Republicans in Colorado. I had no problem with the fact that he was given a six figure salary to be the full-time chairman of the Colorado Republicans. I have always believed that part of that job description included helping out with the Schaffer for Senate campaign.
It was troubling, however, to read in the February 21st edition of the Denver Post that he was expecting to be paid by the Schaffer campaign for his “advisor” role. I can see no reason to justify “double dipping” when funds are at a premium for any campaign.
If Mr. Wadhams is planning on actually managing the Schaffer campaign, then that is clearly a full-time position in itself. It is an area where he clearly has experience and expertise. He may even be better suited to be the campaign manager there and he certainly then should be accorded a full-time salary from the Shaffer for Senate organization.
But the Colorado Republicans need a chairman who can devote his time and effort to all GOP candidates, and party matters, as the need arises. That can’t be done, if that person is running (and collecting a fee from) a U.S. Senate campaign.
The Colorado State Republican Central Committee is the body that hired Mr. Wadhams as a full-time chair. They need to meet and clarify what his role in the upcoming election will be, and if the Colorado Republicans should still be paying him a salary, if most of his time and effort is being spent (and financially compensated for) down the hall with the Schaffer campaign.
The bulk of us, who work on behalf of the party, do it for free. When we come home and check our mailbox, we find numerous requests for money from various GOP candidates and the Colorado Republicans. I — for one — am not willing to contribute any money to the Colorado Republicans, or the Schaffer campaign, (although I will continue to volunteer on behalf of both) until there is a public resolution on the matter of what organization is paying Mr. Wadhams for his time and efforts.
The Colorado Republican State Central Committee needs to address and resolve this divisive matter in March. The Republican “rank and file,” which is where the bulk of our party volunteers come from, await their decision.
Drew, it sounds as if on one basis…i.e., money and time…you’re not willing to give any more until Principle follows. Is that an incorrect interpretation? What Principle is at stake here? The correct answer gives me hope.
…lesseee, you were off to the slope of the west, right? Howz it going?
CoPols continues to entertain. The polster of the year competition had you in the thick of things I recall! I send greetings to you in the land of oranges and hope your time with your aging parents provides you with some time to enjoy yourself.
The western slope has been full of pleasant surprises. The record setting days with snow on the ground promises a beautiful desert spring, and I’m looking forward to exploring as much of it as I can…on bike, on foot and in the kayak.
The travel over the Rockies through the winter has produced a permanent clutching right and left hand that hopefully will thaw out with the Spring as well! What white knuckler trips those have been!
Politically, it appears there will be a sweeping sea change, but I’m old enough to temper my expectations of any substantive real progress. These many years of wasteful wars and shortsighted policies have left me most happy up in the mesas and buttes.
Colorado misses you.
I’ll still donate my time and efforts to my party and its candidates. That certainly includes Bob Schaffer, whom I have no quarrel with at all. I’m just not willing to donate money to the two entities I mentioned until it has been made clear that Mr. Wadhams isn’t collecting compensation from both.
tonight’s keynote speaker at the Colorado Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson Dinner is Sen. Jim Webb. I did not see Dick Wadhams in attendance. Nor was there mention that he sent flowers or a note of congratulations.
Regarding negative campaign tactics:
You lost. Time to change.
Are donations to the state party actually sufficient to pay Wadhams and do the other things necessary?
It is my understanding that the state GOP has been in severe financial difficulties over the last year. If so, how is it that the party can afford his salary?
Since Trailhead now is generally described in the press as “defunct,” maybe the cash is flowing into state party HQ again.
so they can afford him, but not much else. Probably would have been smarter to hire just a fundraiser and then once they were pulling in the bucks, Wadhams.
But speaking as a dem, I think they are handling it “perfectly.”
How convenient. Wadhams says the GOP is conceding the General Assembly in 2008–and now we see why–Wadhams only wants to play in the U.S. Senate sandbox (trying to redeem himself).
What a disservice to the party.
Because I care deeply about my party and our capacity and potential for winning in November I took the time to ask a few question… write a few emails… and generally develop some facts prior to jumping to conclusion. (Something those damn Boulder Liberals rarely do…)
In the past the Party chair was the standard-bearer for the party, the state spokesperson, and the primary fund-raiser. In addition to a Chair they always also had an Executive Director who ran the day to day and managed the operations elements of the party. In the past the Chair was never paid and the ED was paid quite well. Dick came in and took over both jobs and the ED salary. (More work, same amount of pay… also something a Boulder Liberal might have trouble wrapping their mind around.)
My understanding is that now he will be hiring a new ED for the Party. That ED will get Wadhams salary and Wadhams will just be paid by the Schaffer campaign. (Damn Boulder Liberals won’t understand, I’m sure.)
And while the Party was in tough shape financially only a year ago and the butt of more than one Boulder Liberal’s jokes… I was delighted to see what kinds of miracles Wadhams has worked and (compared to last year) I am totally comfortable with the financial condition of the Party as they gear up for November.
AND FINALLY… as for this notion about Dick Wadhams and his fascination with the words “Boulder Liberal” I just don’t buy it and don’t think pundits in Colorado will latch onto it and start saying it constantly anytime soon.
Beautiful how you worked Boulder Liberal into every sentence.
Instead of speaking as a pundit, you could just record yourself and play that every time that you want to try to push your so-called point. You obviously can’t be original to save your life.
then both the Colorado Republicans and the Schaffer for Senate campaign need to be putting out a joint press release about it. Otherwise, everyone is left with the impression set forth in the February 21st Denver Post article.
I was aware that the party used to hire an executive director. I also knew that, with Dick Wadhams as a full-time chairman, they would not be doing that this election cycle. That’s why I never objected to the salary he was being paid as party chair.
If the decision has been made to hire an executive director while Mr. Wadhams serves as a non-compensated party chair, then that is fine with me. I would fully expect then that the Shaffer campaign should pay him well in whatever capacity he serves there. I’ve always thought Mr. Wadhams would be better suited to running a U.S. Senate campaign than being a full-time party chair.
As long as the candidate doesn’t say anything stupid, like “macaca.”
Or vice versa? Doesn’t he have an inherent conflict of interest in which master he serving?