The vibe I'm feeling from 3 Colorado races..

[Veganhealedme]

Last edited Tue Sep 16, 2014, 11:24 PM - Edit history (1)

Hello to DU. I'm new here. I felt like it's finally time to throw myself into the political moshpit known as political blogging. So I finally made an account here. I've been an on-and-off reader of DU for years but never had the grit to go body surfing. I'm glad I finally joined the debate with like minded progressive people who's hearts are in the right place. I'm a 43 yo gay white guy. Pro-union/EFCA, progressive socialist. Moved to Denver from Chicago not too long ago. Just getting registered to vote here now etc.

I've lived all over America throughout my life and have learned to pick up on the political vibes of each place that I've called home. I've learned some experience with this stuff over the years. But I also don't want to sound like a know-it-all. I've always voted Dem in every election since I was 18.

The vibe I'm getting here in Colorado is more blue than purple, and of course, I mean that in a good way. Republicans are running the usual right-wing lunatics. Example, Cory Gardner-R, running against US Sen Udall, once sponsored legislation in the Co. House that would ban birth control and make it a felony for doctors to perform abortions. Gardner is further right than Michelle Bachmann.

A recent Huffpo poll which uses a combo of 21 polls..
http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2014-colorado-senate-gardner-vs-udall
Udall 45.9%
Gardner 43.2

I think Gardner is proving to be far too extreme for Co swing voters. I really like Udall's chance to win. Turnout is crucial as it is everywhere.

Gov Hickenlooper-D vs Bob Beauprez-R
Hickenlooper 46.2
Beauprez 44.1

http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2014-colorado-governor-beauprez-vs-hickenlooper

An ad that hits Beauprez hard for deregulating his own bank..

Beauprez is a corrupt, self-deregulating bankster and right-wing nut that wants to "reclaim" national parks in Colorado to sell them off to rich private owners. I think his banking past will have him fall on his own sword this election if Dem voters turnout. I'm feeling very good about Hick pulling it out and winning in Nov.


A US House race..
Andrew Romanoff-D vs Mike Coffman-R(I)

A real chance to flip a house seat blue. Coffman is an idiot that invokes Mourduch. Give him time, he'll make a stupid enough comment that will sink him.

Romanoff on the other hand could be a real progressive gain. I think it'll be close but I think Romanoff will win due to Coffman's extremism.

These races are tight. I like that fact because it will likely keep enthusiasm high and will hopefully encourage Dems to turn-out and vote in mass numbers. I also like Dem chances here in Colorado and I think the Democratic Party as a whole, nationwide, is going to do better than past mid-term elections. Of course there are deep red states..

Republican psychosis is waking people up to the never ending barrage of their right-wing craziness. I hope Dems vote and I hope swing voters have had enough with the party of right wing crazy.

[misterhighwasted]

1. Welcome & hope you are here for the long ride. Great post

Interesting & well said.
I'll continue reading now..

[Veganhealedme]

14. Thanks for the nice welcome!

[Laffy Kat]

2. Hey, VHM. Great post.

I'm relatively new to DU too, although I've lurked for years. Also live in Colorado, Boulder County. You're right about the upcoming election. I'll be knocking on doors for the Democratic candidates on Saturday. Believe we will be concentrating on the Udall-Gardner race, specifically getting out the vote. Yes, Gardner is bat shit. Beauprez is just scary.

[Veganhealedme]

15. Hi Laffy Kat..

I like your name!

Nice to here another Co. voter feeling good vibes about the upcoming elections.

[customerserviceguy]

3. A hearty welcome to you

And thanks for your insights on the Colorado races. Please keep us informed.

Colorado is just not like the rest of the mountain West. It is an oasis in the desert of mindless Republicanism, and it will be refreshing to hear your views from where you sit on that political landscape.

Carry on!

[Veganhealedme]

16. A hearty thanks!

Nice welcome message!

I like the phrase..
"It is an oasis in the desert of mindless Republicanism" So true, kinda sad that the west is often red(Wyoming, Utah etc) but I still got a chuckle from the phrase. Sometimes I gotta laugh about this shit or I lose my mind.

I'll definitely keep posting updates as new polls and data becomes available.
Thanks

[Esse Quam Videri]

4. i hope you're right on all accounts

Welcome to Colorado!

Unfortunately, I don't think my district will be close and I will be stuck with Ken Buck.

[Veganhealedme]

17. Thanks for the nice welcome..

And hello to a fellow Co'an from a newbie Co'an!

Hopefully we can flip at least a seat or two blue. I'm really hoping Romanoff can defeat that rw jackass Coffman.

Hopefully someday, we can flip these red districts blue.

[Archae]

5. The race I'm watching in Colorado is the one with Klingenschmitt.

He's a total wackaloon.

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/search/node/klingenschmitt%20type:blog

Here in Wisconsin we have a corrupt governor who's been bought and paid for by the Koch brothers, and in the race for my congressman, (Tom Petri is retiring,) we have a real wackaloon named Glenn Grothman.

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/wisconsin-gop-house-candidate-glenn-grothman-s-10-most-outrageous-moments

[Veganhealedme]

19. Walker is a RW Koch-puppet, no doubt..

thanks for the info from Wi.

[mopinko]

6. it looks that way in wisconsin, too.

lots of enthusiasm for du'er kelly westlund, recently cited as a possible dark horse pick up. neck and neck with no paid media.
and a 10pt gender gap. if she wins mary burke wins.

which is to say- that is the important part of your post- lots of competitive races DOES mean turnout. at least on our side. hopefully the other side is pretty demoralized right now.

[Veganhealedme]

20. Thanks for the good news from Wi.

[politicat]

7. Welcome to both DU & Colorado!

I think you're reading this right, but this will be a turnout election.

I'm in Boulder county, and yes, Gardner is out of step with most of the urban areas, but there are a few where he's not. Colorado Springs, the northern I 25 corridor (Firestone to Wyoming) and the western slope cities could be toss ups, if not decisive. The advantage is that the state is 85% urban, but the secessionist counties can't be discounted. They've got significant bitterness and motivation, because those counties are accustomed to greater influence in state politics, but since they have lost population while the urban counties have gained in the last few decades, they feel neglected.

Mail ballots will be critical.

We also have legacy congressional district issues, due to the population density discrepancy -- the urban areas are currently under represented for their population, while the rural are over-represented.

Welcome, and thanks for registering!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

8. Believe it or not, I'm feeling the same hope for Arizona.

I know, I know, Arizona, but, I'm the President of our local Democratic club and have had the chance to meet most of the Democratic candidates in our state. They are, without exception, well educated, eloquent ' and rational. Their opposition is composed of tea bagger nuts. Our current state treasurer wants to sterilize people who need public assistance. I remember some guy in the 1930's who Had a similar position. I think that most of us have had enough of that thinking. We will see.

[TexasTowelie]

9. Welcome to DU.

I think that you are going to like it here. Please subscribe to the various groups and forums that interest you.

It's good to hear that Colorado is trending more to the Democratic side. Also be forewarned that I have a twisted sense of humor.

[calimary]

10. Welcome to DU, Veganhealedme!

Glad you're here! A MOST impressive post. It took me YEARS before I found some instructions to help me figure out how to post photos here! I hope the tide is turning! I've seen coverage from Kansas that suggests that's what's happening there, also. brownback has turned that poor unfortunate state into a laboratory for extremist CON "ideas" and it's created quite a downturn. All that "cut taxes!" crap has left them deep in the red and all these pie-in-the-sky promises that it would lead to economic boom times all came up short. The story was about how many GOP rank 'n' file have become disenchanted with the way things are going, and plan to vote for the Democrat this fall. Some of them choosing blue for the first time.

Let's hope so! But it WILL NOT HAPPEN UNLESS EVERY LAST ONE OF US gets up off our asses and VOTES!!!!!!!!

[joshcryer]

11. Welcome, and concur. CO is a blue state now.

Especially because of the GOTV efforts.

[aggiesal]

12. I'm sure John Elway is ...

helping as many right wing nut jobs in that state as he can afford.
I'll bet he has a few of those mentioned in his box during a game
to give them exposure.

Welcome to DU.

[Esse Quam Videri]

21. I haven't seen his horse face mug with any pols to date.

Hopefully he learned his lesson from the assinign comments he made during last season's playoffs.

[freshwest]

13. K&R for an excellent beginning and good news. Welcome!

[etherealtruth]

18. Welcome .... great post