May 24, 2009 01:33 AM UTC

Justice Ken Salazar, Anyone?

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• by: Colorado Pols

This just up on the CNN Political Ticker:

Colorado’s top elected Democrats are urging President Obama to look west for his Supreme Court nominee – pushing the Secretary of the Interior, native son Ken Salazar, for the opening.

Gov. Bill Ritter and Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennett sent the letter to the White House Thursday asking Salazar be given “serious consideration for this crucial appointment”.

In the letter, they said Salazar “brings the perspective of a Westerner and one of the Hispanic community’s leading voices.” Describing his rise from “humble beginnings in Colorado’s rural San Luis Valley” to state Attorney General and senator, they tout him as a contender “who can add a new perspective to the court.”

Salazar is one of two members of the president’s cabinet who has been mentioned for the court vacancy, along with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

And from the Denver Post:

Gov. Bill Ritter and the state’s two freshman senators are asking President Barack Obama to “seriously consider” appointing Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a letter sent to the White House Friday, the Democrats touted the diversity and unique experience Salazar would bring to the bench – a Westerner who from hard-scrabble beginnings has risen to become one of the country’s most successful Latino politicians.

“He would provide the viewpoint of a Western and Latino leader and bring a wealth of experience from his many years in both the public and private sectors,” Ritter said of the push to consider Salazar to fill the spot being vacated by retiring Justice David Souter.

The push by Colorado Democrats to boost one of their own appears somewhat last minute, coming as reports suggest that Obama could announce a pick as soon as Tuesday…

Provincial boosterism, or might the upwardly-mobile Salazar land himself a much longer term gig? You can’t argue with a former state Attorney General and U.S. Senator’s qualifications, but there might be some questions from liberals who are happy to see Salazar dealing with energy policy as opposed to, say, civil liberties. And think of it–a member of the “Gang of 14” calling in his chits?

Oh yeah, and what about Christine Arguello? Not getting a local endorsement apparently.

A poll follows.

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