PPP (1/23-25, registered voters):
Michael Bennet (D-inc): 40
John Suthers (R): 34Michael Bennet (D-inc): 43
Scott McInnis (R): 37Michael Bennet (D-inc): 48
Tom Tancredo (R): 39Michael Bennet (D-inc): 41
Bill Owens (R): 44
(MoE: ±3.2%)
The bad news is: few people in Colorado know much of anything about their new senator, Michael Bennet, appointed out of semi-obscurity (he was the Denver schools superintendent) to fill the seat left vacant by Ken Salazar. His favorable/unfavorable rating is 33/21, with a massive 45% not sure.
On the plus side, though, that leaves him plenty of room for growth, and his unknown-ness doesn’t seem to be hampering his prospects for re-election in 2010. Bennet wins three out of four prospective matchups, and the only one he doesn’t win is against popular former governor Bill Owens, who hasn’t given any indication of any intent to run against Bennet. Two of the other matchups are even more irrelevant, as Attorney General John Suthers and ex-Rep. Scott McInnis both took themselves out of the running in the days since the poll was taken. That leaves Bennet vs. Tom Tancredo, which doesn’t look to be much of a contest at this point.
H/t DTM,B!
Nobody knows the guy yet he defeats statewide office holder Suthers and is only narrowly behind the popular two term former governor? Terrible numbers if you are a Repub.
It must also be said that Ritter handled the appointment process much better than the others and in less time.
Only because I know it’ll be hilarious to watch Mr. I’m Scared Of Immigrants fall flat on his face. And thanks for referencing from my comment from earlier on.
Owens was never going to run anyways (would have done so in 2008 for the open seat if that’s what he wanted), but with Suthers and McInnis polling so badly, I doubt they’ll get any top-tier candidate. It will be Tancredo or someone equally unelectable.
I think we’ll be fine here. My speculation returns to Nevada, where apparently the GOP is already running ads against Reid (although their top candidate just got indicted and the other one just lost his congressional seat).
There was a very interesting profile on Bennet in WaPo a couple days ago, referenced here:
http://politicalwire.com/archi… though it offers no clue on why Gov. Ritter selected him over more likely choices.
Basically, this is one very competent individual, who likely will have no problems assembling and running a good election campaign. (Of course it’s quite helpful that his strongest potential opponent, Suthers, isn’t running.)
At only 44 years old, he’ll be in the Senate a long time. The article said he was seeking a seat on the ag committee, and it seems that he got it:
http://www.senate.gov/general/…
As much as this pick annoyed the ever-living crap out of me! (Ritter you puss!) Its good to see that he hasn’t brought down the party with his poor judgement.
Suthers wasn’t a really threatening challenger to begin with but as the ONLY statewide republican official I guess he made the most sense! But he’s about as inspiring as drywall so definitely a smart move staying on as AG!
Owens has baggage that’s bee allowed to stay dormant since he hasn’t been up for election since 02 and pretty sure he doesn’t want his legacy greatly damaged by a race that’s sure to bring it all out!
The only candidate I would really worry about is Josh Penry, he’s the state senate minority leader, young and has moved up the latter pretty rapidly, he’s the best chance the republicans will ever have hands down, but looks like he’s biding his time in the senate till 2014 with an opening in the governor’s mansion!
Other than that, Tancredo is bat-shit crazy and could NEVER win statewide (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE RUN!), McInnis has no interest, and Beauprez and Schaefer got their asses handed to them in their previous attempts!