Owens Won't Run For Campbell's Senate Seat

[Freddie Stubbs]

Governor Schedules News Conference To Announce Decision

POSTED: 11:09 am MST March 9, 2004
UPDATED: 12:01 pm MST March 9, 2004

DENVER -- Colorado Gov. Bill Owens has decided against running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Ben Nighthorse Campbell, according to media reports.

The governor (pictured, left) scheduled a 1 p.m. news conference to discuss his decision. 7NEWS will carry the news conference live.

According to reports, Owens will cite family matters as contributing to his decision not to run.

The governor's office would not confirm the reports.

more: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/2908607/detail.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Question for Colorado DU'ers: Does Mark Udall have a chance?

This is very interesting to us out-of-staters.

Thank you.

[CO Liberal]

2. Mark Udall May Have a Chance

But I'd rather see him stay in Congress. We already have at least one good candidate in Mike Miles - former military man and a nice guy. I've met him at a few party functions, and I'd have no problem supporting his candidacy.

[tridim]

5. Somehow I got on the Mike Miles email list

I think it was via the Dean mailing list. He seems like a good option.

[rockymountaindem]

4. Good that he's not running.

I don't know if Udall has a chance or not. He could easily be painted as a "Boulder Liberal". That's not a good reputation to have in my state. A better choice would be someone from Denver, like State Sen. Dan Grossberg or former mayor Wellington Webb. I've heard that Mike Miles, who I think is the state education comissioner is also considering a run.

If you want my opinion, Gary Hart would kick some major ass considering his national security credentials. Since he probably won't run, however, the next best choice would be State Attny. General Salazar, who boldly fought the re-districting ploy. As an Hispanic, he would have wide appeal to that group and is also has a solid record and a clean personal life (unlike Owens, who is seperated from his wife).

Whether or not Udall would run really isn't important. We have many great people to choose from.

[CO Liberal]

3. Methinks The Dirty Laundry Is About To Come Out

Colorado has been buzzing for the past few months that Owens cheated on his wife and got another woman pregnant. Guess he doesn't want that can of worms opened up.

[hlthe2b]

19. Yeah... either that, or some of the media took him aside....

and said that the national press would run with the story, even if our own are too chicken-livered to do so...

[mountainvue]

23. Did they finally get

divorced or are they back together now? Also, the party wants Rutt Bridges, from what I understand.

[MissMarple]

24. They are not divorced, problems with being Catholic may be a factor.

Frances is a nice woman, although perhaps a bit trusting or naive.

Bridges is in the running. He has dollars. He will need a broad base.

[mountainvue]

25. I didn't know they were Catholic.

Catholic Republicans? How odd. Yes, she seems nice enough, although I've never met her. They don't live in the Governor's mansion. They live in Aurora somewhere, don't they?
Don't know the first thing about Bridges, except that he has dollars. He has no politcal experience, correct? Bet he can fundraise though.

[MissMarple]

26. She kept the children in public school and their own home, I believe.

Bridges founded the Buckhorn think tank. He and his ex wife have big money from.... maybe internet stuff? I'm sorry to sound so vague, it is way past my bedtime. And Scalia and Thomas are Catholic Republicans. I think it is a conservative religious thing. I know some in St.Louis. It happens. What can be said?

[bluestateguy]

6. I suppose that's good

But I still think republicans have a slight advantage with this seat.

[rockymountaindem]

7. That's putting it lightly.

The only way the Dem. can win is to not let anyone talk about Bush*. If that happens the Republican will use his association with Bush* to win. What we need is a great candidate for our side and a complete incompetant to run against.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Thanks for the information. Colorado REALLY could use a Democrat

as governor. You've had some really bad luck at that spot.

A lot of us haven't heard Owen's position may be a little shakey, like Rick Perry's in Texas.

Hope a lot of Coloradans will see it's really time for change this year.

[rockymountaindem]

10. Yeah, too bad

nobody even knew who was running on the Democratic ticket for Gov. in 2002 (it was Rollie Heath, btw, who nobody ever heard of.

[CO Liberal]

15. Owens is a Lame Duck Governor

Thanks to the term limits the Republicans pushed through back when Roy Romer was governor, Owens can't run again for governor. He has to look elsewhere. I'm hoping enough dirt comes out of him to move Owens to private industry or (even better) prison.

[MissMarple]

9. Good. It would have been an even more nasty election with him in it.

Personally, I think Mike Miles has a better shot than Udall and Bridges. Miles is ex military, state department, and formerly an educator. He seems to have good progressive/populist appeal that voters are beginning to actually look for thanks to Dean. If a Dem wins the seat, I think it will have to be someone who can pull elements from the whole state not just the more liberal Denver/Boulder area. We need the crossover voters and the independents, but we need to clearly articulate why they should vote Democratic, why it is really in their best interests to do so. Bridges would do better to support the progressive/populism trend that needs to be better articulated and promoted. He has the financial resources to do it.

[TakebackAmerica]

11. Thank god!

:party:


Iguess he wants to run for President in 2008

[chemteacher]

12. Owens & Prez

I've heard Owens' kids remark about their dad being president. I think he knows he has a better shot running from being an ex-governor rather than as a freshman senator.

Also, Mike Miles is from Colo Springs, which can't hurt. He might steal a few votes just by being local from what is otherwise a black hole (El Paso county) for most Dem candidates.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi chemteacher!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[CO Liberal]

16. Hi!!!!

:hi:

In many places in Colorado, us liberals are few and far between.....

[rockymountaindem]

22. Chem Teacher

Are you a former teacher at Rampart High School?

[BigBigBear]

14. I need to educate myself about Miles

but Colorado has become a very, very difficult place for a Democrat to win a Senate seat.

Where's Tim Wirth or Dave Scaggs when we need them?

Maybe Dottie Lamm....

[CO Liberal]

17. Not Dottie Lamm!!!!

She lost last time to Ben Nightmare Campbell.

Here's a link to Mike Miles's web site:

http://mikemiles4senate.com/

[MissMarple]

21. This isn't a place for the old Dems. It has to come from the bottom up.

I hope the Colorado Democratic Party begins to understand this. They are way behind in their thinking.

[otohara]

18. Whew

He's popular, dirty laundry dont' stick to republican's.

[librechik]

20. we still don't know about an interim appointment

that could throw a wrench into the soup.

BTW, does it seem to you that the Pukkkes are conceding this senate seat to the Dems? They certainly should since they STOLE it from us...

[saoirse]

27. Colorado - you're one f'd up state

Republican Governor, two Republican Senators... and dare I mention Coors.

I think you'd be happier wedged between Alabama and Mississipi.