The sole Republican holding statewide office in Colorado, Attorney General John Suthers, announced today that he won’t run against newly-appointed Sen. Michael Bennet — and he won’t take a crack against Gov. Bill Ritter, either:
“I realize the decision I’ve made will be disappointing to many Republicans and friends and acquaintances of mine that wanted me to run for Governor or for the United States Senate in 2010 and that it may be disappointing to many Democrats who thought I’d be easy prey if I did,” he said. “But I hope everyone will understand that such decisions have to be made on the basis of very personal values and beliefs. I must ultimately be directed by my inner compass.”
In other good news for Bennet, ex-Rep. Scott McInnis has also told the Denver Post that he won’t run for Senate, though he’s seriously considering making a run against Ritter. Former US Attorney Troy Eid is now pondering a Senate run, though he would have to be considered a significant downgrade from Suthers.
Any likelihood Bennet will draw a primary opponent? With two relatively young senators, if I were a Democrat in CO who wanted to be a senator, now seems like the time to make a move.
You would have been a tough opponent. Thanks for taking a pass.
Anyone else considering a challenge we should be worried about? Bennet could shoot up to Likely Democrat if opponents keep droppping off the radar like this.
my understanding is that CO voters are just starting to warm up to him…or the 4th time is the charm…
might run, which would be great for us because it would scare off other major Republicans and it would give Bennett a fairly easy time.
I don’t think Tancredo will run now that Salazar is no longer the Senator. I think we know why Tancredo was planning on running against Ken and I think that race has lost the luster in Tancredo’s eyes.
http://hotlineoncall.nationalj…
“With Suthers out, knowledgeable sources believe RNC cmteman/ex-state Treas./ex-state Senate Maj. Leader Mark Hillman (R), ’06 GOV nominee/ex-Rep. Bob Beauprez (R), and Aurora councilor Ryan Frasier (R), an African-American, are the candidates most likely to take another look at the race.”
do it do it do it…
either him or Beauprez would be priceless.
Anyways, Gov. Ritter is safe for that matter, if McInnis thinks he can take down the governor he’s in for a shock. He’d be better off running against Bennet, but I guess the prospect of being one of 36 or so Republican senators has lost its luster.
I like Bennet a lot. From what I’ve read about him he’s extremely smart, hard working and savvy. He comes from a very privileged family but like the Emanuel brothers the Bennet’s seem to have gotten where they are by hard work, not wealth.
I think he will end up impressing a lot of people, avoiding a serious primary challenge and winning election in the general fairly easily. I could see him joining the cabinet at some point and hell, maybe even running for President down the road.
Maybe that’s overfawning, but there is something impressive about this guy.