CO-Gov: Source Tells Political Wire That Ritter Will Drop Out (Update: It's Happening)

[ccharles000]

Taegan:

A source tells Political Wire that Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) is ending his re-election campaign. A fundraiser scheduled for tonight was canceled and all campaign staff was sent home in the middle of the day.

If this does indeed turn out to be the case, this news is much more on the "John Cherry" end of the drop-out scale than it is on the Byron Dorgan side. While Ritter is the incumbent, his poll numbers have been flaccid all year, and he hasn't done himself any favors with the Democratic rank-and-file over the past four years with his borderline-hostile relationship with organized labor in the state. This could give Democrats the opportunity to start fresh and tap Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper for the race. If nothing else, a Hickenlooper candidacy would likely do more to excite the base than a Bill Ritter/Michael Bennet top-of-the-ticket pairing would accomplish.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/6136/cogov-source-tells-political-wire-that-ritter-will-drop-out

[niyad]

1. this is confirmed?

[ccharles000]

4. yes

[Blasphemer]

2. OT: I like your new picture!... nt

[TheBigotBasher]

5. Snap

I love his State and District updates. Always a great way to keep informed of small details that will have big effects.

[Blasphemer]

6. Indeed. I'm very grateful for them!... nt

[mopinko]

10. we used to have a campaign forum

where stuff like this stayed posted.

edited to add- not quite the same, but worth a cross post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=108

[rockymountaindem]

3. Maybe Romanoff would drop out of the Senate primary and run for that job

That way we could stop the primary and get a good governor. Having Ritter on the ticket wasn't going to do us any favors; they got that part right.

[paulk]

8. that might be the best of all worlds

I'd rather Hick didn't run for Gov - I'm not a big fan of his.

[rockymountaindem]

7. Yeah, let me echo others in this thread by giving you a pat on the back, ccharles

Your devotion to posting actual news about US politics is a refreshing change back toward what this site was probably supposed to be about. Thanks a million :toast:

[Clio the Leo]

9. Rumor: WH wants Ken Salazar to run for Gov....

http://twitter.com/marcambinder

[curlyred]

11. I was hoping we might get a real Democrat this time

I am a little weary of voting for candidates who have a D by their name but are really republican lite.

[DevonRex]

12. Unfortunately we have very few "real" Democrats that can get elected

in a statewide race. I really like Romanoff but I don't know if he can pull it off.

[WI_DEM]

13. governors no matter the party are in trouble this year.