Romanoff’s hopes rest on Byzantine nominating procedure in Colorado

[Robb]

Romanoff’s hopes rest on Byzantine nominating procedure in Colorado

Andrew Romanoff must lean on a convoluted primary process to help him upend Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).

Romanoff has struggled on the fundraising front, and some are doubtful he can put together the kind of campaign required to knock off an incumbent. The state’s precinct caucuses, which will be held next month, are looking more and more like either a lifeline or a death knell for his campaign.

Political observers say — and supporters of Bennet worry — that Romanoff will gather momentum with a strong showing at the caucuses next month and the state assembly in May, using it to create a real race before the Aug. 10 primary. Conversely, they say losing at the state assembly could represent the end of the road.

“He could change the expectation game by getting over 50 percent,” said independent Colorado pollster Floyd Ciruli. “He needs to get up there enough to validate the only real argument that he’s made — that he is the person of the grass roots of the Democratic Party.”....

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/83571-romanoffs-hopes-rest-on-byzantine-nominating-procedure-in-colorado

[MADCO]

1. Strange assessment

CO nominating process is a little bizarre. Caucus (March) followed by county and state assemblies (April & May) - which get a lot of attention within the party caucus goers, but ultimately do <b>not</b> matter. It is the primary in August that determines who gets to be the nominee in the general.

The really hard part about is that the primary is in early August - the ballots go in the mail for the general about 7 weeks later in early October.

So the real time compression is running the general election in just 7 weeks. Tv and other media factor in HUGE.

Last time around,in 08, Senator Udall spent approx $15million and he had record breaking ginormous turnouts and long Obama coat tails. Eg - Obama won Arapahoe county, the first D presidential candidate to do so since LBJ in 1964. Obama won by 14%- Udall won by 4%.
The time before that, in 06, now Interior Secretary Salazar spent approx $12million. On his side had increasing frustration with President Bush and broad frustration with the R majority in the Senate and House.

This time around, the D nominee has to run against a re-energized Colorado Republican organization. Conventional, modern campaigning is going to require bigger media, earlier. And Romanoff has not raised the dough. He has not differentiated himself on significant issues from Senator Bennet. He has some hardcore loyal followers, but he's raising a little less than $300k per quarter so no matter what happens in the caucus & assembly, he is just not viable in the general.

I'm a Democrat and I want this seat to stay D.
to be continued


PS
There is no "sore loser" path- if a candidate loses the primary there is no way to get on the general ballot as an indie or green or anything.