We had a caucus last night in Colorado. All political parties met.
The Colorado Democrats elected delegates based on a U.S. Senate race preference poll. Although we didn't have the record turnout we had in 2008 during the Presidential election, it was a respectable caucus.
No doubt the interest in this year's caucus was the Colorado US Senate race that has the former Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff, who has been courting the base to get on the primary ballot. He is challenging the incumbent Colorado Senator Michael Bennet who was appointed to fill Senator Salazar's seat when he left the Senate to become Interior Secretary.
Last night was the first measure of support from party members. (Radio talk show host Ed Schultz is talking about the results on his show this morning.)
Flip the page to see the Colorado Caucus results. Flip it good.
President Obama and many high profile Colorado Democratic elcted officials and organizations have endorsed Senator Bennet. But even with these endorsements, the challenger prevailed at our caucus last night.
Colorado Democratic Caucus Election Results:
Andrew Romanoff - 50.45%
Senator Michael Bennet 41.34%
Uncommitted 8.15%
Note: These results are posted online at ColoradoCaucus.Com. I will update the final numbers when they are posted. There is one large county (Pueblo) still unaccounted for but I have been told the results will not change much when the outstanding counties are counted.
UPDATE: The results were posted for Pueblo County as soon as hit the publish button. I have updated totals above. It looks like Pueblo splt - three ways. R-37.60%, B-27.09%, U-36.45%. It is a common tactic in outside-the-Denver- metro-wall to vote uncommitted in order to receive the attention of the candidates. Pueblo will see both candidates in their area often during the next few weeks. Being from a smaller county 100 miles outside the beltway, we used to vote uncommitted as a group. But last night, our our County (Eagle), caucus goers were ready to commit. Way to go Pueblo! Good on you.
At my caucus last night the major themes in favor of the candidates were:
- Romanoff garnered support because he refused PAC donations.
- Romanoff was known and liked by many.
- Romanoff has the experience as a former state legislator.
- Bennet introduced the public option letter in the US Senate.
- Some were concerned that a primary would be too expensive and felt the incumbent, Bennet, should get the support.
- Bennet earned support from a voter because he had called out Sen. Nelson-NE on his earmarks in the Senate HCR bill.
- Some felt that since the candidates are not that much different on policy, that Bennet should get the nod.
- It was universally felt that we have two outstanding choices and that who(whom)ever wins, we will back the voters choice.
Personally, I voted as uncommitted and have not made a decision in this race. I have felt from the moment that Speaker Romanoff announced he was running that Colorado would see two choices on the primary ballot. Colorado Democrats were shocked by the appointment of Michael Bennet by Governor Ritter last year. This was their first opportunity to challenge that choice. The caucus results indicate enough support for Romanoff that Colorado will have a primary.
In Colorado, the caucus is the first step, then on to county and then state conventions for the final nomination. I am reminded of our US Senate nomination in 2004 when Mike Miles challenged Ken Salazar for the nomination. It was a big deal when Miles won ballot placement at our state convention.
I envision that the Broomfield Events center will be rocking on May 21 when we meet for final determination at the Colorado Democratic Party state convention.
I love primaries!
P.S. It appears that the Colorado Republicans will also see a primary for US Senate. It is not a good year for 'establishment types' anywhere.
Stay tuned.