On Winning the West: PART 2!!
Submitted by atdleft on September 18, 2008 - 5:23pm.
Betsy Markey | C4O All-Star Democrats | C4O All-Stars | Clintonistas for Obama | Colorado | Jeff Merkley | Mark Udall | Oregon | Winning the West | Clintonistas for Obama
Last week, I began analyzing the state of the races out West. And ever since then, I've received feedback about me not including all the competitive races out her. And to all of you fretting, I say... Don't worry!
Because we have so many opportunities to not just pick up electoral votes for Obama, but also additional House and Senate seats, I just couldn't pack them all into one diary. So today, without further adieu, I give you Part 2 of "On Winning the West"!
OK, there's no denying it. Colorado is one of the top swing states this year. Colorado is one of our best opportunities outside of New Mexico for a Western pick-up this year, but it's also a state where the Republicans are going for broke as they're doing everything they can to prevent us from turning the state blue. But because we have the facts, the issues, and the momentum on our side, we have a great opportunity to not just turn Colorado blue on the Presidential level, but also make the state's Congressional Delegation bluer as well.
Mark Udall is currently a Member of Congress representing the Boulder area, and he's the Democrat running for Senate here. Udall has a strong record of standing up for the values we believe in as well as working across the aisle to make change happen. He's been a leader on energy and environmental issues, and he's really the perfect fit for Coloradans on the issues they care about most. Despite a recent barrage of ugly attacks, Udall has the edge in this race. Still, our friends at the DSCC are taking the GOP threat seriously... And we should, too. As long as we have Udall's back, we can win here.
Another great opportunity for us in Colorado lies with Betsy Markey in the state's 4th Congressional District. This area has traditionally been more Republican-leaning, but that's quickly changing. The incumbent anti-environment, anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-working-class Marilyn Musgrave is so extremist that she couldn't even get 50% last time she ran for reelection. And already, Markey has taken the lead in the last indpendent poll done in the district. So far, it looks like the people here would rather see someone who's ready to work for them like Betsy Markey rather than face another two years with Musgrave. And with the DCCC and EMILY'S List making a move here, we know this is a real race that we can win.
Now I know we can win Oregon for Obama. It's a pretty reliably blue state, although the polls are often close here. With some hard work and a strong message, we can not only keep Oregon blue for Obama... But also send another Democrat to the Senate!
Jeff Merkley is the Democrat running for Senate here. He has a strong record as Oregon's State House Speaker of bringing all sides to the table to pass legislation that has made a difference in people's lives while still holding true to his progressive values. That's why a multitude of progressive advocates, such as Oregon's labor unions, the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters, Planned Parenthood PAC, and NARAL Pro-Choice America have all endorsed Merkley. Now the Republican incumbent Gordon Smith may claim to be "bipartisan", but we know he's just another Bush-Cheney-McCain enabler. The polls here may be close, but withour help and the DSCC's help Merkley can win.
So will you join us in helping these good Democrats win? We can win the West... As long as we stand up and fight! So will you fight with us? If we want change, we need to suppport it and work for it. So come on, let's bring some positive change to the West! :-)
[From another diary here.]
Here's my take:
History: Colorado was very red through 2002. For President, starting in 1992, the state went for Clinton, Dole, Bush, and Bush. After Democrat Roy Romer left the Governor's mansion in 1998, arch-conservative Bill Owens served two terms, and the only statewide Democratic officeholder was AG Ken Salazar. In 2002, when the 7th CD was formed, Republican Bob Beauprez won a squaker. The Republicans controlled both houses of the state legislature. In Congress, there were two Republican Senators, and five of the seven in the House were Republicans.
Enter 2004. That year, Democrat John Salazar took CD3 when Republican Scott McInnis retired, Ken Salazar roundly defeated Pete Coors for Ben Nighthorse Campbell's Senate Seat, and both houses of the legislature turned blue.
Then came 2006. The state elected Democrats Bill Ritter for Governor by a wide margin and Cary Kennedy for State Treasurer. CD7 turned blue when Ed Perlmutter won the seat as Beauprez ran for governor. The Democratic majorities in both houses grew larger.
That's the setting. The hottest race this year is the Senate race to replace the retiring Wayne Allard. Mark Udall got out to a 6-7 point lead, but lately millions of dollars have been spent sliming Udall by several swift boat-like organizations. It's nip and tuck as we speak.
Democrats are doing well in two traditionally-Republican CDs. The most promising is CD4 candidate Betsy Markey to send the embarrassing Marilyn Musgrove back to whatever hole she crawled out of. I recently saw a poll with Markey holding a seven-point lead.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack is making noises in the Colorado Springs-dominated CD5, where first-term Rep. Doug Lamborn faced a Republican primary this year. The last I heard, that race was getting pretty competitive.
CD6 is set to remain red even though Tom Tancredo is retiring, and CDs 1, 2, 3, and 7 will remain blue.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
Help Clintonistas for Obama help Democrats win! :-)