Coffman, Lamborn, Polis win primary showdowns
Battleground state key to presidential, U.S. Senate races
By Lisa Ryckman, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 12, 2008 at 6:44 p.m.
Updated August 13, 2008 at 12:02 p.m.
Photo by Preston Gannaway © The Rocky
Second Congressional District candidate Jared Polis talks with family members and Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak.
Photo by Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky
Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman works the crowd before addressing his supporters in Littleton.
Jared Polis' record-breaking spending pushed the Boulder entrepreneur to a primary victory Tuesday night, headlining an evening in which Secretary of State Mike Coffman and incumbent U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn also rang up wins in their congressional districts.
Political experts say all three primary winners are virtual shoo-ins in November.
Polis' victory in the 2nd Congressional District over former state Senate president Joan Fitz-Gerald was the closest of the three races. But as November approaches, close is a watchword more for the presidential and U.S. Senate races in Colorado.
"This is a battleground state now," said E. Scott Adler, political science professor at the University of Colorado. "This is a state both parties think they can win."
Colorado voters are about to find out just how much they mean to the powers that wannabe.
Expect plenty of visits and beaucoup bucks spent on mostly negative advertising as Barack Obama and John McCain vie for Colorado's heart, pollster Floyd Ciruli said. Voters also can expect a hot and heavy showdown between Democrat Mark Udall and Republican Bob Schaffer for the seat held by retiring U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, a race that holds possible implications for the Senate's balance of power.
"The assumption is that race is going to remain close," Ciruli said. "So both Senate campaign committees will be fully engaged, and the races will be extremely hard-fought, with aggressive debates and negative advertising."
In Tuesday's primary, Polis defeated Fitz-Gerald and environmentalist Will Shafroth for Udall's 2nd District seat after the costliest congressional primary race in state history.
For Lamborn, a Colorado Springs Republican who just finished his first term, it was deju vu all over again as he defeated businessman Jeff Crank and retired Air Force officer Bentley Rayburn, both of whom ran against him in 2006.
Coffman credited his victory to a positive campaign that he says never attacked opponents Wil Armstrong and state Sens. Ted Harvey and Steve Ward.
In Denver, voters were deciding a measure aimed at seizing the cars of illegal immigrants by requiring the city to impound vehicles of any unlicensed driver..
The city charter gives the council the option of either passing citizen-sponsored initiatives as ordinances or placing them on the ballot, but Denver voters appeared to be headed toward doing away with that power by approving Referred Question 1A.
The November state ballot will include as many as 19 measures, including an anti-abortion "personhood" measure, one to outlaw all-union workplaces where everyone is forced to pay dues, another to raise casino betting limits and others dealing with racial preferences in state hiring and university admissions.
Voters might want to start studying now. With the primary out of the way and the Democratic National Convention on the horizon, the political action will cool off briefly in early September then really begin to heat up, said John Straayer, political science professor at Colorado State University.
"Money? Lots. Negativity? Lots," he said.
No matter what, there will be plenty of early voting and lines at the polls come November, Ciruli said.
"Not only because people are interested in this election but also because we're getting new voters: African-American voters and voters under 28," he said. "It'll be an all-time record."
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August 12, 2008
9:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
ItsJustme writes:
Polis is a rich, gay, former board of education member who poured tons of his own money into the campaign. Did anyone believe he would not win in the "Boulder" district? Oh well, better than socialist Fitz-Gerald, I suppose.
August 12, 2008
10:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
socrates writes:
"If elected, Polis would be the first openly gay congressman if he wins in the November general election."
Barney Frank?
August 12, 2008
10:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
daRock writes:
"If elected, Polis would be the first openly gay congressman if he wins in the November general election."
Barney Frank?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Polis would be the first openly gay congressman from Colorado if he wins in the November general election."
Barney Frank is not from Colorado. Please read the quote before posting.
August 12, 2008
10:59 p.m.
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pegmadsen writes:
Congratulations, Jared, from a fellow techie.
August 12, 2008
10:59 p.m.
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Alask27 writes:
Doug Bruce out, gee what a surprise. Polis bought his way in, may as well be a rebublicon - Fitz-Gerald was a better candidate.
August 12, 2008
11:27 p.m.
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robert10001 writes:
If more people had the courage to stand up for who they are and what they stand for like Jared Polis, this country would be a much better place. Bravo Jared, Bravo!
August 12, 2008
11:44 p.m.
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tchoupitoulas writes:
What.....Douglas Bruce got voted out? I thought I heard thunder in the skies, but that must have been a collective celebratory yell from the folks in El Paso County.
Is there any way the voters down in Colorado Springs can do something about their other blight...Focus (on your own, thank you very much) on the Family?
August 13, 2008
12:01 a.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
So Polis bought enough votes to win. Yawn. Hope he does for the Democrook party in DC, the same as he did to Colorado voters with his inept initiative that became a laughingstock blunder, and his corrupt ridden private school.... the one profiled on TV last week about kids skipping more than 40% of the required school days.... and Polis and his leftist staffmembers making excuses for them. And the kids laughing at the gullibility of the Polis crew for being shown as gullible s***ckers.
August 13, 2008
1:25 a.m.
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rocky2125 writes:
Boulder and District 2, got the BEST CONGRESSMAN MONEY COULD BUY.
Polis pandered his way into the Democratic spot.
August 13, 2008
6:12 a.m.
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Mike846 writes:
I find it interesting that the paper buried the passage of Prop. 100 way down the column, and then misstated that it was aimed at illegal aliens. Its clearly written and aims at ANYONE without a license; it just so happens a whole bunch of those folks are illegals. The message is clear: Denver voters are fed up with the "winky-winky" sanctuary policies of the City. The next step is to vote out of office every elected official who won't stand up for US citizens and stop pandering to the invaders. Kudo's to Denver voters. Mike
August 13, 2008
6:19 a.m.
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ItsJustme writes:
For those of you who think this had anything to do with Douglas Bruce, Bruce is a "state" representative. Lamborn is the incumbent "US" representative, who has now defended his nomination for re-election against two other Republicans. He did not run against Bruce and Bruce has not been "voted out". Sorry to disappoint Alask27 and tchoupitoulas.
August 13, 2008
6:27 a.m.
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ItsJustme writes:
Sorry, I'll correct this myself. Bruce did lose his primary in the state house race. But Bruce isn't even mentioned in 'this' story so I'm not sure why he was brought up.
August 13, 2008
8:01 a.m.
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ActualThinker writes:
So it's better for a representative to have lobbyist that he is then going to owe favors back to fund their campaign, or a rich family? I admit I was hesitant at first about someone spending the bulk of their money to get elected, but compared to the alternatives I have no problem with someone who made their own wealth (hard to do that without being smart which we need more of), and yet cares enough to give it all away to represent their state. If Polis gets elected he wont be in anyone's back pocket (insert gay joke here but it's true).
August 13, 2008
8:25 a.m.
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Fireball writes:
I estimate that Polis spent at least $15 million on this primary. With the nearly 20,000 votes he received, that is $750 per vote. Heck, he could have just handed me a $100 bill and I would have voted for him. Does anyone think he will be a fiscal conservative with our money? Not with these habits !
August 13, 2008
8:53 a.m.
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Willy writes:
Once again we have a pathetic batch of mutts to choose from in Novemeber. We need to break the stranglehold the two parties have on our government get get representation that reflects the values of the constituents.
August 13, 2008
9:38 a.m.
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Scott writes:
I have always wanted (but never got around) to standing outside of a Polling place and hand out steel slugs with "HEAD" and "TAIL" stamped on opposite sides. This year promises to be yet another head/tail year.
Scott
August 13, 2008
9:39 a.m.
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CWW writes:
I'm waiting to see if the Denver cops will actually enforce the law just passed with Prop 100.
It's about time they get the unlicensed drivers off the road.
August 13, 2008
10:55 a.m.
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jbowen43 writes:
Polis won because he is well known and well liked in the Democratic Party not because he is rich or spent a lot of money. He has spent years building a stellar reputation and good will among his fellow party members. The race was close because Joan Fitzgerald is also a smart, tough politician with a reputation for getting the job done and it done right. It would help the conversation if some of those posting comments would get a clue.
August 13, 2008
11:42 a.m.
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rckymnthoss writes:
It's remarkable how Jared Polis outed Mark Udall in his victory speech lastnight.
He said that he hopes the 2nd District will CONTINUE SENDING PROGRESSIVE LIBERALs to Washington.
It goes to show Udall really is a dyed-in-the-wool Boulder-liberal, despite the attempt to cloak himself as a moderate around the rest of the state.
August 13, 2008
3:12 p.m.
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joggle writes:
rckymnthoss: "It goes to show Udall really is a dyed-in-the-wool Boulder-liberal, despite the attempt to cloak himself as a moderate around the rest of the state."
You know what? Not everyone is conservative. Some people are liberal. Oh the horror. If you want to vote conservative, vote conservative. If you want to vote liberal vote liberal. I have no idea why somebody will think that it's good to be one but bad to be the other. People disagree about things and that's reality for ya folks. I'm glad we live in a diverse country with a diverse viewpoint of the world rather than some single-party country. And I sure as heck don't think one party or ideology has a monopoly of 'being right' vs. 'being wrong'. It comes down to the individuals and each deserves fair consideration, not some stupid label and stereotypes.
August 13, 2008
4:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
cpd writes:
Robert 10001 writes, "If more people had the courage to stand up for who they are and what they stand for like Jared Polis, this country would be a much better place. Bravo Jared, Bravo!" Doug Bruce did. And look what it got him. Bravo Doug, Bravo. Only in Boulder!