Rocky Mountain Hysteria

Boy, I haven't seen Colorado liberals this excited since Obama extended unemployment benefits a few more weeks. I understood the joy over that, if I was a goldbricker I'd be stoked too about four more weeks of doin nothin. Not sure I follow the ecstasy here though.

Having your very liberal incumbent Governor quit mid reelection? Bad. That he did so to "spend more time with his family" (stop fooling around on his wife)? Bad. Possible replacements? Lets see.

The crowd favorite seems to be Alamosa's own, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, former CO senator and brother of 3rd district Rep. John Salazar. The leftist blogosphere has applied mythical status to his popularity in Colorado. A casual sampling of these fine folks commenting on the subject seem to think that in a race against Scott McInnis, Salazar would get between 59 and 71 percent of the vote. It's true the man was popular when he got elected to the Senate. All Democrats were at the time. Now Salazar hasn't got the benefit of running on the wave of anti-Bush sentiment. Now he is tainted with the stink of Obama and all of the failures associated with that administration. That will be a huge anchor for him in a statewide election that has turned against Obama, outside of Boulder and some of Denver anyway. Besides, all the bad things Ritter did policy wise are no different than what Salazar would have done as well. McInnis has a realistic chance to take down Salazar should that be the matchup. Also an odd showdown between politicians from small, western slope Colorado, McInnis based in Grand Junction, Salazar in Alamosa/Pueblo.

The best thing about Salazar running would be the fact that Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper wouldn't be. He is incredibly popular in Denver and should have replaced Salazar in the Senate instead of Bennett. I'm not convinced McInnis could have taken him down so hopefully he stays out.

Other candidates. Jared Polis - Please. His own party hates him, he's just rich enough to hold onto his socialist seat up in Boulder. Ed Perlmutter - No way, not enough name recognition, record or money. He gets obliterated. Andrew Romanoff - Who knows. He says he's staying in the Senate race but has he even really campaigned yet? People were very excited about him when he launched his bid but he has been invisible since then. Probably not viable.

The primary in both parties should be entertaining as well. McInnis got rid of Penry but still has to get by Maes, a tea party favorite. It seems likely that there will be at least two Democrats in the primary election as I doubt the liberal bench just wants to anoint Salazar the savior just yet.