This video is from Andrew Romanoff's kickoff event in Denver. There are some great quotes here on why he is running and why the people of Colorado deserve the right to vote for their Senator - along with quotes from people attending the rally. (Andrew's speech starts at about 1:20 in the video)
(I wanted to capture the people in the crowd speaking, because they are enthusiastic and I believe the majority of the democratic base. There has been a lot of diaries on this primary, and I wanted to convey how the people across Colorado feel about Andrew's candidacy.)
Key quotes from Andrew Romanoff:
"There is nobody in this race that has a stronger record of legislative leadership, no one who knows the people of Colorado better, and no one better able to bring Democrats and Republicans together."
On the Democratics taking the Majority in both chambers of Colorado for the first time since JFK in 2004.
"The point of getting power, is not to just hold on to that power, not just to get your back slapped by more important people or to get bigger offices and fancier titles, NO, the point of getting power is to use it - to improve the lives of whom you represent."
On his policy positions:
- Invest in education and training instead of leveraging our economy with financial gimmicks and foreign debt.
- Cut costs of healthcare and bring decent quality healthcare to not just some, but every American
- We make our nation and our neighbors less dependent on fossil fuels so we no longer have to spill our blood and spoil our skies just to power our planet.
I don't need to take a poll to take a position, this is what I believe.
Fyi: you can hear Romanoff supporting the Public Option on his radio interview with local progressive Mario Solis Marich on Wednesday's show.
"Next year the people of Colorado - let me repeat that, the People of Colorado, will get to elect their leader. This contest ought to be decided not by a tap on the shoulder, but by the actual voters of Colorado.
I am not entitled to serve in the US Senate - Nobody is. You have to earn this job, and that's exactly what I am going to do."
On the 'dividing the party'
"I have spent 16 years registering voters, recruiting volunteers and rallying the troops in Colorado. This campaign will be no different. My aim is to grow the Democratic party, not to divide it."
Quote from the a voter in the audience - which I heard from many different people.
"I am going to support him (Romanoff) - in fact he and Cary Kennedy (State Treasurer) are the only ones that will get my money."
That was the sentiment of a lot of people there, highlighting the schism that Governor Ritter caused - pitting loyal traditional democratic members against him (Ritter's approval numbers are in the low 40's and disapproval in the high 40's to low 50's) and his appointed Senator vs those that have decided to side with Andrew Romanoff.
Well, my money, my time and support will be going to Andrew Romanoff and the right to have a vote for our representation.
You can visit his website
here and contribute on his actblue page here.
The people of Colorado will be heard.