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December 21, 2008 06:32 PM UTC

Denver Post: Hickenlooper For Senate

  • 90 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

The Denver Post makes the hometown favorite’s case:

Gov. Bill Ritter doesn’t even need one of his legendary blue-ribbon panels to help with this decision. The choice is clear.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper should be Colorado’s next senator.

With Sen. Ken Salazar expected to win confirmation as Interior secretary, Ritter must select someone to fill out the remaining two years of the senator’s term. Several names quickly bubbled to the top, and most are very qualified to be Colorado’s junior senator. (Mark Udall, elected to the U.S. Senate just last month, will be the state’s senior.)

We think only one candidate, Hickenlooper, has everything Ritter is seeking: high statewide name recognition, stratospheric approval ratings, a proven knack for raising money and, most importantly, a definitive track record of success and pragmatic problem-solving.

Hickenlooper’s potential in the U.S. Senate would be limitless.

Ritter, a Democrat, will want to appoint a fellow Democrat who can win statewide in 2010 and retain the seat for his party. Hickenlooper’s popularity is immense along the Front Range, and he’s a well-known figure throughout the state, thanks to his quirky campaign ads. He’s been featured in just one statewide ad buy (for Referendum C), but the Denver TV market, where his mayoral ads air, reaches throughout the state…

There’s plenty to like about the other candidates. House Speaker Andrew Romanoff is bright and innovative and works across the aisle. Congressman Ed Perlmutter is cut from Salazar’s moderate cloth. Congresswoman Diana DeGette has proven to be a skilled lawmaker. And while he’s publicly distancing himself from the scramble, Denver Public Schools chief Michael Bennet would make a fine senator.

But, for us, the discussion always comes back to Hickenlooper, a centrist, pro-business mayor who has consistently embraced pragmatic solutions to urban problems over unhelpful ideological crusades.

A few points to consider:

1. The Post wouldn’t have written this glowing endorsement without some confirmation that Hickenlooper is in fact willing to take the job, which in the absence of a clear statement from the Mayor helps settle an important question. There are people who tell us confidently that the Senate seat is Hickenlooper’s if he wants it.

2. Everything about the choice for Ritter depends (in our view, anyway) on the likelihood of the appointee holding the seat in 2010. This is the critical filter that rules out a large number of short-list favorites. The Post asserts that Hickenlooper has the appeal and name recognition to win 2010’s marquee race, given his well-received statewide exposure fronting for 2005’s Referendum C and very high Front Range opinion ratings.

It’s a good recap of Hickenlooper’s pluses. Do you agree? Contributing discussion items that naturally present themselves include Denver’s current $56 million budget shortfall, the value of experience gained as a “strong mayor” of a major city as qualification to be U.S. Senator, lingering tension between Ritter and Hickenlooper over the 2006 race (if any), special-election dominoes set up by this as opposed to other choices, likely GOP counterstrategy against Hickenlooper (undermining the suburbs, running up the scoreboard in rural areas), and the related bottom line: whether or not a liberal Front Range Democrat with no rural cachet can “whistle past Mesa.”

If all of these questions have answers that point to Mayor Hickenlooper as able to pull it off in 2010, then go for it. We’re not quite ready to pronounce Hickenlooper the “easy pick” the Post declares him to be, however, if for no other reason than the wealth of other solid candidates–some of whom might plausibly claim to be a less-nuanced sell.

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90 thoughts on “Denver Post: Hickenlooper For Senate”

    2. In case anyone forgot:

      Ritter campaigned under the guise of a moderate “new Democrat,” but now we know he’s simply a toady to labor bosses and the old vestiges of his party – a bagman for unions and special interests…

      …Ritter sailed into office with an unusual but strong coalition of business and labor backing his bid. But he has now corrupted that relationship with business, and the bulk of his agenda is at risk. He also has damaged his party, which enjoys power in Colorado partly because of that moderate face they painted for themselves in recent years….

      Coloradans bought the Colorado Promise, but may end up with a trail of broken promises.

      I have complaints about Ritter too, but Dave is exactly right. Why should he listen to anything the Post editorial board has to say?

      1. of course Wadham’s would love to see DeGette picked, but that is well … a dry dream.

        I just know that tallport and his union boss buddies will put the PR crush on Mayor Hickenlooper starting soon.

        1. All Union Bosses are corrupt and Unions should be done away with.  That’s your credo.  Forget that Unions have done good things for people and that they can help.  Just make generalizations.  Of course Businesses have done some bad things too, but I’m not saying all businesses are bad.  Of course, you’d give them a free pass because it’s the unions that are evil and if people have to work for a slave’s wage, then so be it because they don’t matter.  Get over it.  

  3. As a Denver citizen, I have been less than impressed with Hickenlooper as a manager – the job of the Denver Mayor is actually a management job and he gets a very low C grade.

    I would hope that the Governor gets bigger visions in his search for a successor to Sen. Salazar.  Surely there are Democrats scattered all over the state who would be excellent choices.  The Governor really does not have to limit himself to current office holders or recent office holders.

    What about Bill Thiebaut from Pueblo for example.  Are there not Democrats who are lawyers or judges but not office holders who could be looked at?  Are there not Democrats who are high rankiing members of the Colorado business sector who could be considered?  How about a noted research scientist out of higher education?  Perhaps a physician with public health and policy credentials?

    Colorado does not need to limit itself to a decreasing club of insiders who are looking for jobs.

    As far as the Denver Post editorial, it strikes me that the wrong paper is about to go out of business.

    1. appoint some unknown, untested nobody. This isn’t the 9 Who Care Award, it’s the United States Senate, abraham. Even among the “decreasing club of insiders” (most of whom already have jobs, by your definition, so aren’t looking), it’s not clear more than a handful can raise $15 million, wage a successful statewide campaign from a standing start, and, oh, by the way, do Colorado proud in the Senate.

      But you’re right, by having the audacity to endorse the most popular Democrat in the state, the Denver Post really ought to go out of business.  

      1. Hick and City Boss staff get massive raises, now he calls for unionmen (police, fire, etc…) to take a 5.4% cut.

        Talk about slitting your throat for a Senate seat.

        Also he has been making a behind the scenes play for the Grant-Humphrey’s Mansion conversion to the Mayor’s mansion.

        Hey Hickenlooper … you already have two mansions (your own house and that cable magnet house).

        2. And the magNATE house is used for receptions and such.  

          As to walking on water to convince the Libertads of the world that he does a good job, it’s not coming along so well, I hear.  

      2. Gee ever since the US Constitution was amended to provide for direct election of US Senators your line of argument became archaic.  From your point of view wouldn’t it just be easier for everyone who is not a Denverite to simply mail their proxies to the Denver Democratic Club?

        Just a wild stab in the dark here, but I’m guessing that Bill Thiebaut has been tested.  And, I am just guessing here again perhaps Justice Hobbs or Chief Justice Malarkey have some skills that would allow them to rise the heady heights of the US Senate.

        As far as your assertion that I connected the endorsement of Hickenlooper to my comment that the Post should go out of business, that was not the point.  I just happen to think that the Post is not a particularly good newspaper and never has been.  I have always thought the Rocky was simply the better newspaper from a journeyman standpoint.  There is nothing about the loss of the Rocky that will improve the Post.  Given my druthers, I would rather have the more competent Rocky in business than the marginal Post.

  4. I recommend Andrew Romanoff for U.S. Senate. He has been an extraordinary Speaker of the House for Denver and the entire state. He has reached out successfully to solve problems that have plagued heavily Republican rural areas of the state like crumbling public school buildings. From an issues point of view he is well versed in both Front Range, urban/rural and other issues that impact Colorado.

    From a personal point of view, he is a gentleman who people like as soon as they meet him.

    His intellect is superior. He listens well and has that rare ability to meld ideas together and formulate policies and coalitions that work.

    From a political perspective, he can win an election because he can, personally, politically and sincerely, appeal to all kinds of Coloradans. He is relatively young with the energy and well directed drive to look after the best interests of our state and the common good.  

    1. Perhaps the mayor has had a change of heart, but I recall a particularly telling quote from Hick, around the time of his decision not to pursue the Governor’s office.  He indicated that he only wanted to devote about 10 years to public office.  So picking up and moving to D.C. to serve the decades it usually takes in the Senate to gain clout, would seem contrary to his ambitions.

      On the otherhand, having a young (42 year old), but experienced and capable leader such as Speaker Romanoff in the Senate, would seem to be the best possible solution for our state.

      Granted, I agree the job is probably Hick’s for the taking, but I really hope that Ritter chooses Romanoff for this job.

    2. Being a Mayor is not necessarily good prep for being an effective legislator and while Hick may have wide name rec and popularity, Romanoff could easily be just as strong a candidate as an incumbent. Incumbency is a powerful thing and funding shouldn’t be a problem. And being fluent in Spanish is a nice plus. It certainly is beginning to sound like it’s going to be Hick, though.

  5. On one hand, I whole-heartedly think Andrew Romanoff is the better choice. Hick isn’t a bad choice, Andrew is just better.

    On the other hand, appointing Hick would create a high profile special election in Denver which would spur my personal efforts to get back to work.

  6. What are Hickenlooper’s positions on universal health care,  on restoring civil

    liberties, on use of force in Iraq and Afghanistan,  on taxing windfall profits from the oil companies and the banks, on war crime trials for those in the last administration who authorized tortue and illegal acts of war……..

    1. I am here you loud mouth, but I am nobody’s “hack”, because I believe in democratic principles at every level of society. And I have never been a supervisor or a “boss”, not that there is anything wrong with that. As for this topic, I will just say that press does not make the call, the GOV does. Look how many times the press got it wrong on the Obama’s cabinet picks. I have no idea who it will be.  

          1. enough is enough, the equity owners of businesses run into the tank need to be rewarded … with the total loss on their investment.

            EFCA? No my friends, EFCA is #1 on the Union Boss agenda. They have a full court press on to assure the hip Hickster remains in Denver.

            Trust me, within 2-3 days your see Hickenlooper out with a PR just like Kennedy’s today. Family and concern for quality govt is #1. I am a winner and can get more done here. Remember the DNC … that was me. Timing is just not right, blah, blah.  

  8. that the Repub is likely going to be Suthers, who has won statewide, is viewed as moderate and thoughtful, and isn’t from Denver.  Hick is thought of outside of Denver as big city/big taxes.  Its a contrast that plays well for Suthers and the Republicans.  

    1. would have been a better candidate in 2008 than the immoderate scandal machine they went with. Don’t discount the state Republican kingmakers’ ability to pick the wrong candidate in 2010, too.

      1.    Suthers will probably face charges that he is a RINO, and a primary opponent from one of the True Believers.

          In the meantime, the Crown Jewel can start practicing his new mantra, “Lodo Liberal John Hickenlooper….”

    2. Mr. Suthers may have a slight advantage because he isn’t from Denver but in the end the economic situation will dominate the next election. If Andrew Romanoff is picked and he helps bring us out of our economic troubles, where he is from won’t matter. People want someone who they believe is effective and pays attention to their beliefs and issues.

      1. but whichever D is picked won’t be able to do anything that helps solve the economic problem.  It will be solved or not solved regardless of who is in that seat.  

        Suthers has a reputation as a fiscal conservative and that will play well against Hick and his tax increases or Romanoff and Amendments 59 (which I supported but rural areas didn’t) and 58 which I believe he also supported.  

    3. They have taken few policy positions pertinent to being a U.S. Senator, or made any catastrophic mistakes that people who aren’t political junkies are aware of at this point.

      Close examination of Suthers record would show that he has been a political hack on his advice and disavowed by the courts on occasion.

      Hick’s strong approval rating outside Denver belies the claim that he is seen as big city/big taxes outside of Denver.

      In a face to face debate, Hick disarms Suthers with his goodwill and his charm.

      1. I’d have to disagree with the Suthers assessment.  He might not have the friendly smile and warm handshake of a Bob Beauprez or Hank Brown, but he’s as straight as they come.  R’s in the legislature panned him when he supported A58 and cheered him when he took on Ritter’s milly levy freeze.  To a person, the D’s at the capitol all respect him, even if they don’t always agree with him on policy.  And the editorial boards and reporters all love him.

        And where are the numbers on Hick’s approval rating outside Denver?  I haven’t seen any.

    4. It will be targeted at who can we spend less to get elected in 2010. The results will show this …

      1. Ritter

      2. Hickenlooper

      3. J Salazar

      4T. Permutter

      4T. Romanoff

      I have left off many of the others because they don’t matter.

      So with Hick set to bailout with some PR the field will be Salazar, Perly and Romo.

      Count 2 Colorado Senate votes for Union Bosses and the EFCA.

  9. The mayor’s experience, business and public, has been in management. The senate is not a good fit for him, Denver, Colorado or Ritter.

    Plus, the inane attempt to economize by asking firefighers and police to take a pay cut..is simply crazy. That will not play well anywhere.

    I think Helen is bored and pushing this. Who does she know on the Post editorial board???  This is where we really need BE’s inside perspective.

    1. Who does she know on the Post editorial board???  

      Could it be that the Post editorial board feels it knows Hickenlooper pretty well all on its own? (As it does Perlmutter and Romanoff.)

      Your insinuation is just silly. Hickenlooper is the most popular Democrat in the state (neither Perlmutter nor Romanoff are as well known, and both Ritter and Salazar have high enough unfavorables) and was the favorite for governor three years ago. After pulling off the DNC, on top of playing up Denver for five years, he’s got a national profile to match his statewide popularity.

      You’re correct, though, Hickenlooper lacks legislative experience, just as Romanoff lacks Washington experience and Perlmutter lacks a statewide profile. Remember, Salazar lacked legislative experience too, and that doesn’t seem to have crimped his ability to forge consensus (for better or worse).  

      1. Caroline Kennedy doesn’t have legislative experience, either.

        But she and Salazar  are lawyers, so they have a nodding acquaintance with laws and law making. Perlmutter and Romanoff have legislative experience.  Hickenlooper runs his own show…whether it is a bar or a city.  I just don’t think he is the best choice.  

        The deal with the police and firefighters…which I note you ignored…was plain politically stupid.  It made no sense in any kind of context and is what people will remember…I will remember,

  10. I have said over and over that it will be Hick.

    Whether Ritter listens to the Post Ed board or not isn’t the point.  This editorial was not written to persuade but to foreshadow what the Post (Haley and Singleton) believe will be the choice.

    Hick is not my choice (that is John Salazar) but I am certain that he will indeed be the choice.

    1. …especially if Ritter and Hick aren’t close friends.  It’s not as if Hick is by far and away the best candidate.  Other good candidates exist, whom Ritter may like better personally.  And, even if we assume for the sake of argument that Hick would be best positioned to hold the seat in 2010, he’s certainly not the only person who has a decent change to hold it.

      So, do your sources provide a reason for why Ritter feels he must pick Hick?

    2. I believe the governorship would be much more suited to Hick’s temperament, but he played Hamlet with that role too.

      He had many convinced of his next move then too:

      http://www.5280.com/blog/?p=1588

      If he wants to spend the next 18+ years in the Senate, that’s fine with me, but somehow, I just don’t see him wanting that.  Anything less, and why bother?

      1. Do you even have any idea when Colorado last had a three-term senator? (Hint: he was elected in 1954.) Every senator from Colorado first elected in the last half century has served just one or two terms. That’s one reason Hickenlooper might “bother.”

        1. Oh come on, if you don’t go into this race believing you will be in it for the long run, you are doing everyone a disservice (see:  Allard).

          Whether or not Colorado will support a three-term Senator is a great question, one that I hope Andrew Romanoff will be able to answer in 20 years or so.

          1. We’ve been waiting 50 years for a senator with the staying power of Andrew Romanoff. Thank God he arrives without a job at just the time we can take advantage of a 20-year commitment to power.

    3. The Post’s endorsement is a pretty good clue as to what is going to happen. Pols says they wouldn’t have written the endorsement if Hick wasn’t seeking the appointment. It seems more likely the Post wouldn’t have written the endorsement if they weren’t confident Hick would get the nod.  

      1. Don’t get me wrong, I’m almost persuaded that Hick will get it as well (but for the article link above).  

        However, other than a better class of cocktail parties, I just don’t see why he would want to drive himself crazy with the Senate’s slow, deliberative pace when as an entreprenuerial executive, he gets to innovate and command legions here in Denver.

        Besides, if he wants to stay in politics for at least another 6 years, there will be a perfectly good opening in the Governor’s office that he could win in a walk.

  11. If you were to design, from the ground up, a person who would NOT thrive in the atmosphere of the Senate, you would arrive at something very close to my friend John Hickenlooper. His “let’s go do it,” kind of goofy ethic would be a disaster in that institution and he would fail and get bored within a year. And he knows it. The Post has no window on his inner circle (basically his wife and a couple aides) and has no idea whether he’s in this race or not. I really don’t think he is.

    My guess is getting stronger and stronger: All the wannabes campaigning openly for the seat are going to get spiked. It’s Cary Kennedy’s if she wants it. And watch out for David Skaggs or Gary Hart.

    1. David Skaggs had his time in Washington, and at this point I couldn’t see him wanting to go back. And Gary Hart shouldn’t go back because the torch should be passed to a new generation (and I worked with Gary on the McGovern campaign) Cary Kennedy meets this criteria, but I doubt her electability in 2010. Hick has executive experience of course, but no legislative experience, and I agree he wouldn’t fit in the Beltway. He’s used to being the center of attention.

      My top choices are Perlmutter and Romanoff in that order. Perlmutter has a substantial war chest that can be utilized in 2010, knows Washington since he’s already there (and has done well), and as a moderate would run well in 2010. Romanoff would be an excellent choice also, with an advantage that right now he’s unemployed, so he would have a job.  

    2. “It’s Cary Kennedy’s if she wants it”????  Seriously?  What are you smoking???  

      She’s done a good job getting her name on the (not so) short list, but that’s as far as she goes and she knows it.  She may look like June Cleaver but she’s got a huge ego and is ambitious as hell, but she has absolutely no chance here.

      And throwing Skaggs and Hart into it is just plain silly and not worthy of a response.  

  12. does not confirm that Hick will take the job.

    The notion that newsmen have big secrets like that which they are willing to base their editorials upon, but not willing to print, defies experience.

    The only confirmation that they have is their gut instincts, or it would be on the front page of the B section.

    1. One thing Hick has shown over the years is that he does not just jump into a race. The usual amount of time it takes him to decide is longer than the time Ritter has to make the decision.

      Hick would be a good Senator, but I suspect he is still reciting the “to be or not to be” lines.

        2. It’s been, what, five days since the Salazar pick was announced?  Ritter has said he’ll have a pick by the end of the year, but before the legislative session begins at the latest.  That’s pretty quick for a major appointment with lots of well qualified interested parties.

          2. When people expected a decision on Hickenlooper’s entrance into the ’06 Governor’s race, the Mayor repeatedly put off the decision.

            On January 25, 2006, the Denver Post even wrote a story under the headline “Hickenlooper Running Out of Waffle Time.”

            Two days before he changed his mind and announced he was staying out, a 5280 ‘Elevated Voices’ column titled “Hickenlooper Inches Closer to Running” said that in a conference call he had strongly implied he was running and quoted him as saying:

               “I don’t think the governor’s job could be as much fun as the mayor’s job,” Hickenlooper said after an audience member asked if he will run for governor. “But I do believe now it probably has greater impact.

               “You know, my plan was only to give 10 or 15 years to public service. If you’re going to look at it that way, you should probably try to be as useful and have (the) maximum impact as you can.” “So it’s a balancing act of what you love and what you know (in the mayor’s role) vs. maybe having more impact in a different place,” Hickenlooper continued.

            I wouldn’t hold him to his time line, but I wonder if he still feels like he will be calling it quits in 5 or 10 years tops.

  13. At the risk of losing him here, I’d love to see him go.  He works his ass off.  He’s the ‘anti-DeGette’: Someone not afraid to take chances, not afraid to leave a safe seat because he wants to get more done in his life.

    Keep in mind this is a Republican fawning over someone who’s pretty liberal.  I just couldn’t be more impressed with the guy.  

    1. Who are you so enamored of, LB, Hickenlooper?  The anti-DeGette?????  That sounds like Romanoff…or Pearlmutter…

      Since you are one of the top dogs, now, on this blog…you ought to figure out a way to get this stuff straight..Set up a system:  raise your hand, .take a number or something..

  14. .

    With this appointment, he could take the choice of GOP candidate out of the hands of Wadhams and the Party elite.  

    Bill is going to select a credible but weak Republican for the Senate.  Then the party will be stuck with her (or him) in 2010.  And the Democrat will kick butt!

    Good thinking, Mr. Ritter.

    By the way, given sufficient notice, I could be a Republican again.

    .  

  15. …has Romanoff expressed any interest in running for mayor in the special election this spring?

      I realize that there will probably be a dozen or more candidates running, but might Andrew be one of them?

    1. floating that idea. It would seem to be a particularly unsuited job swap for both of them — Hick is a get-things-done kind of guy and Romanoff is a legislator at heart. I don’t see any indication anyone would step aside for Romanoff to fill a mayoral vacancy, or that he’s even remotely interested in it just yet.

      1. …and serving a couple of terms as mayor would give him executive experience for when he runs for governor.

          Mayor used to be a dead end office, esp. in Colorado where the folks in the burbs historically couldn’t imagine ever voting for a Denver mayor for statewide office.

          I think Hick is changing that.  Romo could do the same.

      2. Even if it’s a whacky idea, where’s the credit for that scenario?

        For the record, I don’t think that has a chance in hell — the 7th is bursting at the seams with talented Democrats.

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