Michael Bennet faces insurgent uprising in Colorado Senate primary

[harun]

Source: CSMonitor

Polls show both establishment candidates in the Colorado Senate race – Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet and Republican Jane Norton – trailing opponents ahead of Tuesday's primary.

In Colorado, the establishments of both major parties could be in for a rude surprise Tuesday when voters go to the polls for the primaries.

According to primary-eve polling, both appointed Sen. Michael Bennet (D) and former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton (R) could get beat by insurgents – yet another sign of anti-Washington, antiestablishment sentiment within the electorate.

The Democratic race represents a proxy battle between President Obama, who is backing Bennet, and former President Clinton, who backs Mr. Romanoff. Bennet was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Bill Ritter (D), after Mr. Obama nominated Sen. Ken Salazar (D) to be secretary of the Interior.

Read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Election-2010/Senate/2010/0810/Michael-Bennet-faces-insurgent-uprising-in-Colorado-Senate-primary

---

Would like to hear from our CO DU'rs on what they think about this race and who they are backing.

(Note: CSMonitor is not a religious publication)

[GodlessBiker]

1. Andrew Romanoff vs. Michael Bennet on LGBT issues and legislation:

Andrew Romanoff Supports full, federal marriage equality. Michael Bennet Believes it's a states' rights issue.

Andrew Romanoff would co-sponsor Military Readiness Enhancement Act (would effectively repeal "don't ask, don't tell"). Michael Bennet has not co-sponsored the Military Readiness Enhancement Act.

[Hawkeye-X]

5. Not only that - Andrew supports single payer plan

And you know what Michael Bennet did - nothing.

[harun]

11. Thanks for the info!

[Beacool]

10. Good to hear.

I wasn't sure who to root for and now you have resolved the issue for me.

Go Romanoff!!!!

:D

[kstewart33]

2. Both candidates are top notch.

My husband and I voted for Romanoff. He was our Congressman and did a fine job. He works hard and thoroughly knows the state.

As strong as Bennet is, Andrew is pure Colorado.

[Hawkeye-X]

3. Michael Bennet is out as of tonight

He won't have the votes to defeat Romanoff.

I've been backing Romanoff from day one, and the Dems here are upset with Bennet and definetely holding a grudge against him due to the circumstance surrounding his appointment.

[Dr.Phool]

4. Maybe it's not an anti-establishment sentiment.

Maybe Bennet and Norton are both assholes, and the voters know it.

[Hawkeye-X]

6. They both are

don't care about the R side - Romanoff has them beating the crap otu of them in the polls. Bennet does not.

[earthside]

7. A Romanoff win ...

... is the Democrats' only hope of retaining the U.S. Senate seat once held by now Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

Appointed Senator Bennet is a classic elitist. Period.
(Bennet is your grandfather's Eisenhower Repuglican!)

If Bennet does eek out a victory this evening, the Repuglicans will easily take him down as a corporate shill for his old boss, Phil Anschutz -- never mind the obvious double standard of that charge coming from Repuglicans (we all know they have no shame).

Romanoff is not a progressive's dream candidate, but he has positioned himself as the 'principled' candidate by not taking PAC contributions in this campaign, and he has sided with teachers over Obama-Duncan on education -- making him the best choice to battle against Repuglicans this year when anger and a desire for real change defines the political environment.

[brentspeak]

13. It wouldn't be such a bad thing if Bennet really was an Eisenhower Republican

Eisenhower was an FDR progressive compared to many of the establishment New Democrats we have nowadays. That being said, as much as I'd prefer Romanoff, Bennet isn't half a bad as jokes like Tom Carper and Evan Bayh.

[ananda]

8. Go Romanoff!

nt

[denverbill]

9. Strong Romanoff supporter here.

Our out-going 'Democratic' governor Bill Ritter, appointed this completely unknown protege of hardcore conversative billionaire Phil Anschutz, after polling Democrats who he should appoint. Romanoff was a big favorite in the polling, which Ritter completely ignored. Bennet has proven to be an empty suit. When he learned Romanoff would run against him in the primary, he staged a big 'liberal' act, coming out with a letter he circulated demanding a reconciliation vote on a public option. Then he proceeded to make absolutely NO effort to force that vote.

If you think we need another Nelson or Blanche Lincoln in the Senate, Bennet is your man. If you want someone who will actually vote to help most Americans, Romanoff should get your vote.

[DavidDvorkin]

12. CSM seems to be quoting the poll from over a week ago

The new PPP poll, showing Bennet well ahead, worries me.

[harvey007]

14. Yes, it's going to be close

because The Obama administration campaigned, fundraised, twisted arms and is using every trick in the book in an attempt to get corporate yes-man Michael Bennet elected.

A big chunk of Bennet's campaign cash is coming directly from D.C.

[Hawkeye-X]

16. Yup. And I have now washed my hands of Obama

and will not be voting for him in '12 unless he reads the numbers in the 2010 GE and go hard left, not go further to the right.

That means significant changes are to be made.

Eliminate DOMA
Eliminate DADT
Change from the mandatory insurance option to single payer health plan before 2014.
End Iraq and Afghanistan, withdraw all troops, and make massive cuts to the defense budget leaving them with country to defend, not to invade.
Use that massive cut to replenish the Treasury and allocated for infrastructure, education, economy, jobs, and more.
Remove the cap limit on FICA/Social Security
Fire the Cat Food Commission, and tell them nothing needs to be eliminated at the same time:
Introduce the corrected COLA increase (it was suppressed for many years) for all Social Security recipents and double the $940 cap limit in earnings. I get $2,000 a month (with my salary and SSDI), and it is barely enough to survive on.
Give up the school charter idea, and fire Arne Duncan, and rehire the fired teachers (using the massive cuts from the defense budget)
Introduce credit card fee limit of no more than 10%. Standard is 5% for everyone.
Let the big banks fail if they cannot sustain. (i.e., no more bailouts)
Amnesty on all underwater mortgages & high credit card - (yes, a citizen bailout)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ - MEANS MORE MONEY TO SPEND ON US PRODUCTS!

That's all I gotta say.

[CanonRay]

15. I've been backing Andrew Romanoff since the begining

He is the most honest guy I know, and a true progressive. Nothing against Bennett, but the gov put the wrong guy in there.

[provis99]

17. looks like Colorado is full of fucking retards who need to be drug tested.

[harun]

20. Whitehouse didn't get the memo that "fucking retards who need to be drug tested" are the

majority of the voting population.

So eff them.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

18. This is a fascinating race here in CO

And I am hoping that Andrew wins which of course will make the Nov election interesting as well.

[lakercub]

19. I don't know if Colorado Dems did this on purpose or not

but they did some things right. This is an election where incumbents are in trouble, but Colorado's Democratic incumbents won't be around to get knocked out. I'm not sure Ritter would have survived the governor's race, but Hickenlooper will. Now, with Tancredo further messing up the Republican side and Hickenlooper's popularity (not to mention Maes and McInnis are ridiculous), we should be able to hold the governor's seat with no problem...and we avoid anti-incumbent hysteria.

Same with the Senate. When Ritter appointed Bennett to replace Salazar there was a lot of surprise since Romanoff was much better known in the state. But now, assuming Romanoff wins the primary, the anti-incumbent wave won't get him either. I also think Romanoff is just better for us than Bennett. In the end Hickenlooper will be governor and Romanoff will be senator, and the two seats will be stronger democratic seats than they were going in.

It's probably just luck it worked out that way.

[SlipperySlope]

21. Bennet is "good", but Romanoff is much better.

I'd take Bennett over someone like Norton (duh), but I'd take Romanoff over Bennett in heartbeat.