CO-04: Reform Party spoiler switches to Dems

Eric Eidsness, the Reform Party candidate who picked up the Fort Collins Coloradoan's endorsement in CO-04 last year, has joined the Democratic Party and apparently intends to run for the nomination to challenge Marilyn Musgrave in 2008.  Eidsness pulled 11% of the vote in a race that Musgrave won over Democratic State Rep. Angie Paccione by a 46 - 43 margin, making Musgrave the Republican who was elected with the lowest share of the vote in the country.  Eidsness' surprising showing was fueled by his endorsement by the Fort Collins Coloradoan and, most likely, by an exodus of Latino voters who chose Eidsness as a safe haven/protest vote against the strong anti-immigrant message sent by both the Republican and Democratic candidates in that race.

It should be noted that Eidsness' own immigration position was relatively incoherent, really a collection of positions that seems to me designed to appeal to everyone.  But at least he didn't go around bragging about being mean-spirited toward immigrants.

It remains to be seen whether this former Reagan Administration EPA official can really get traction on the Dem side (especially if Paccione decides to run again and we have a contested primary in the district).  But if Reagan's Secretary of the Navy can become a Democratic Senator in Virginia, you can't rule out Eidsness succeeding in CO-04.

•  "Spoiler"

  I know that's a controversial term.  If Eidsness hadn't run, would Paccione have won?  I do think it is a case where a lot of voters would have chosen not to vote for either one, but considering how many Eidsness supporters expressed their disgust for Musgrave, I think Paccione probably would have won if he hadn't been in the race.

  by Colorado Luis on Tue Mar 06, 2007 at 07:39:20 PM PDT

  •  She would have won. A lot of liberals were voting

    for Eidsness and very few conservatives were based on the crosstabs of several CO-4 polls at surveyusa.com.

    He bears responsibility for Colorado's continuing to have a Ku Klux Klan-endorsed member of Congress (or has Tancredo been KKK-endorsed as well? I'm sure he votes with them 100% of the time, but I don't know that he got an official endorsement like Musgrave did).

    by DemocraticLuntz on Tue Mar 06, 2007 at 09:17:01 PM PDT

    •  Wah! NO- the VOTERS

      bear the responsibility for who won.
      Eidsness has every right to run. It's his constitutional right, dammit! Blaming 3rd party for a loss is BS! Dems need to take responsibility for their losses. By blaming other candidates and even the people who voted for them you alienate a potential vote or ally.
      If you wanna blame someone, blame half the country who couldn't be bothered to give a shit and vote! It's perfect- they aren't listening, so they won't get pissed!  :(

      I've said it before and I'll say it again- I don't OWE anyone my vote. Sorry, but tough shit- obviously the Dem candidate wasn't willing to show enough response or representation to the Dems who voted 3rd party. And if 3rd party candidate didn't run doesn't automatically mean all the votes went to your preferred candidate. Sorry.

      If I don't feel someone will represent me or my core values, why in the hell do I owe them my vote? And I sure as hell don't appreciate someone blaming me because their candidate wasn't good enough. Some just aren't quite capable of holding their noses to vote for a stinky Dem, and it's sad that we are even faced with that type of choice to begin with. And those who bash alternatives to our B.S. 2-party system don't help our cause or Democracy.

      You wanna get people to be on your side and vote your way? Don't alienate those generally on your side- the RWnuts will never convert- all you got are these potential allies and non-voters and the wishy-washy 10 sec. clip voters. Get a strong candidate who stands for (good, freedom-lovin' liberal) values not pandering to middle, corporate or RW ideology, and you might notice people coming to your side. It might take awhile if most of the area is full of neanderthals, though! And of course, you need the good message/image management.

      You don't gain my sympathy whining about a candidate who lawfully ran for office and those who voted their conscience. That should be what democracy is all about, right?

      And, no, I don't live in CO. Just have a thing about bashing 3rd party candidates and Democracy. And having to hold my nose to vote! (which, BTW, I have managed to do)

      Sorry to sound so harsh, but this is an issue that sticks in my craw and that I truly believe should be considered. Seriously- doesn't that make Dems look anti-freedom/ law- or am I the only one?

      by hermit on Wed Mar 07, 2007 at 01:19:19 AM PDT

      •  A lot of words

        but you aren't able to dispute the basic point. Voting for a 3rd party candidate is almost always the same as wasting a vote.

        by andgarden on Wed Mar 07, 2007 at 04:10:49 PM PDT

•  What are his views over all...

  ...especially on:

  ~labor
  ~taxes
  ~fighting poverty
  ~civil rights
  ~the environment (particularly, is he a global warming denier?)

  I think those are some of the most important "Democratic" issues, and are what should define who is a "Democrat" verses who is a "Republican."

  Having someone who can compete in a district is nice... But it can be problematic if they're out to hurt us on too many issues.

  by WayneNight on Tue Mar 06, 2007 at 07:58:10 PM PDT

  •  In exhaustive detail

    at his website here:

    http://www.eric4congress.org/...

    Looks generally pretty "centrist" with some good points.  Lots of the "something for everyone" thing.

    I didn't pay much attention to Eidsness in 2006 because I viewed him as just a spoiler, and I agree we should give him a very close inspection before just handing him the keys to the party in CO-04.

    by Colorado Luis on Tue Mar 06, 2007 at 08:11:05 PM PDT

•  This district is still tough for any Democrat

  I know that you've disagreed with me, but I don't think the numbers are there for a Democrat to win the district. While Paccione did carry Boulder and Larimer counties, she did not fare well in Weld county and lost the rest of the district. She did run ahead of Matsunaka, but still couldn't win.

  Again, even though the vast majority of the district does vote in Boulder, Larimer, and Weld counties, because Musgrave dominated the precincts out in the Plains, Paccione couldn't overcome those margins even though she won the urban areas. Musgrave will hold onto this districts because of the rural counties, which are perhaps the most Republican in Colorado. They vote more like western Kansas than Colorado.

  Until/unless the district can pick up maybe 10-20,000 voters in Boulder County and give up some of its most conservative Plains precincts, or unless Democrats can get 5% more of the vote in the Plains, Musgrave will hold onto her district. She may win by relatively close margins, but it will be her district.

  by jiacinto on Tue Mar 06, 2007 at 08:43:01 PM PDT

  •  Weld, Weld, Weld

    If Paccione had done better in Weld County, she would have won, period.  Her anti-immigrant posturing killed her with the Latino vote there.

    by Colorado Luis on Wed Mar 07, 2007 at 05:20:53 AM PDT

•  This should be interesting.

  I have had many debates with people as to who would have gotten Eidsness' votes had he not been in the race last year.  Many in CO-04 are disgusted with Musgrave and these traditionally Republican voters want someone who will listen to them.  This isn't like CO-05 or CO-06.  There are a number of Democratic State House Reps and State Senators in that district even though it is Republican leaning.  The fact is that 54% voted for Anybody but Musgrave last time.  I am willing to bet that a majority of them would have gone to Angie without Eidsness, and we can try to make sure that happens next year.

  by CO Democrat on Tue Mar 06, 2007 at 09:20:27 PM PDT

•  The Nader Effect

  Although I love Paccione and voted her, I think the Nader-effect obviously played a role in this race causing Musgrave to win.  Combining the parties may create the drive needed to overcome any republican, incumbent or newcomer.

  A primary run would settle the question of Paccione or Eidness, and hopefully Eidness does not become a Lieberman to spoil the race again.

  Thanks for the news.

  by Specter17 on Tue Mar 06, 2007 at 09:58:26 PM PDT

•  Could be an intersting race. Maybe a primary.

  I ran into Colorado consultant Jim Merlino at the Colorado Dems big dinner last weekend. He was introducing former Bent County Commissioner Jim Long to party activists. Long is making plans to run for CO-04, too.

  by greenchiledem on Wed Mar 07, 2007 at 05:58:12 AM PDT

  •  That's Bill Long from Bent County.

    Not Jim Long. Sorry about that.

    by greenchiledem on Wed Mar 07, 2007 at 06:08:35 AM PDT