Six years ago, Colorado seemed a reliably Republican state. Today, it's led by a popular Democratic Governor, a Democratic House and Senate and polls show that Democratic presidential hopefuls are within striking distance. Giuliani holds a six point lead over Clinton and only one point over Obama. Romney trails both, Clinton by six and Obama by an astounding 13%! I don't know who the favorite is for Democratic nominee. Probably Clinton? Edwards is the favorite of the squareheads over at Square State. The race for Republican nominee is likewise up in the air, probably being led by Guilliani. El Tom Tancredo has my vote, if he makes it here, I register as a Republican to vote for the biggest idiot in the primary. My gut tells me that Giuliani has a big advantage among those who think that Saddam Hussein attacked us on 9/11. It will be tough to keep that lead once the campaign starts.
Congressman Perlmutter, Senator Obama, Governor Ritter and Congressman Udall
Wayne Allard is dropping out of the U.S. Senate after two terms (as promised), leaving a bloody battleground behind. The picture is so grim for the GOP that their chairman the aptly named DickWad is trying to get everyone but Bob Schaffer out of the primary. The Colorado GOP is in such disarray that they can't even stomach a primary. Get used to the name of the Democrat, Mark Udall, because you will be hearing it around DC environmental circles. Colorado has a Democratic Governor, will have two Democratic Senators (OK, a Democratic Senator and Ken Salazar), majority Democratic House and Senate and a majority of Democratic House seats. Given that the Convention is coming here, we Democrats are going to be dancing in the streets--literally. I recommend 16th street and Larimer street. In Boulder, I recommend Pearl Street. In Steamboat Springs, I recommend Lincoln Avenue...WHAT AM I SAYIN'!?!
As for Congressional races, there will be none in the first, third, and seventh. DeGette in the first, Salazar in the third, and Perlmutter in the seventh are all likely to not get primaries and/or series general election challenges.
The second, the seat Mark Udall is vacating to run for Senate, is Boulder and some of the ski areas. It's heavily Democratic and right now Joan Fitz-Gerald is leading the Democratic field. Fitz-Gerald is a State Senator and is most skilled politically in the field.Will Shafroth could make the race interesting and Jared Polis is going to spend a lot of his own money to get elected. Shafroth is Executive Director of the Colorado Conservation Trust. Tom Stone, Eagle County Commissioner, is the likely Republican sacrificial lamb.
Joan Fitz-Gerald
The fourth is always exciting because that's Marilyn Madcow Musgrave's district. Angie Paccione is the top Democratic candidate against her and I've got to say, while I didn't think Paccione ran a particularly strong campaign in 2006, she's back in 2008 and we all need to throw our support behind her. Betsey Markey and Eric Eidsness are also running, but it really makes more sense for Democrats to get together in this district. Betsey has the endorsement of Ken Salazar, so she's got that goin' for her. Musgrave might have a primary, but she's going to be heavily favored regardless.
Marilyn Musgrave--AH!
The fifth is a quite Republican district, although the incumbent is in a lot of danger of being beaten in the primary. Doug Lamborn the Sheepish Lion is facing Jeff Crank (you can't make these names up). Jay Fawcett, a Daily Kos favorite and an Air Force Democrat in a district that has Peterson Air Force Base, Fort Carson and the Air Force Academy, may run again, but he got beat pretty bad back in 2006.
The sixth CD is Tancredo's seat and it is the most Republican in Colorado today. It will be a Republican bloodbath, but really, who cares?