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Election 2008: Colorado

Posted by PATRICK EDABURN in Politics.
Jul 1st, 2008 | Comments

Colorado is likely to be one of the major battlegrounds in November from the top of the ballot to the bottom. The state has been seen as Republican but has been moving towards the Democrats as the Hispanic population grows.

President: Bush won this state twice but Bill Clinton took it in 1992. Obama is expected to make this a major target in the fall. Recent polls show him with a lead outside the margin of error and thus at this point he is likely to pick it up.

Leans Democrat.

Senate: Incumbent Wayne Allard (R) has won two narrow victories but has decided to retire rather than face likely defeat. Democrats have tapped very popular Congressman Mark Udall while the GOP is lined up behind former Congressman Bob Schaffer.

Recent polls show Udall with a solid lead.

Leans Democrat

House: Colorado has seven House seats but most remain secure. The Democrats will retain 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 7th while the GOP will hold the 5th.

In the 4th CD, incumbent Marilyn Musgrave (R) is seeking re-election and is opposed by Senate aide Betsy Markey. Musgrave won narrowly in 2006 but could be in trouble this year with the expected Democratic tide.

Leans Democrat

In the 6th District incumbent Tom Tancredo stepped down to run for President. Democrats have tapped Hank Eng while the GOP will choose between State Senators Steve Ward and Ted Harvey. The district does favor the Republicans but a bitter primary could hurt them.

Leans Republican

With the results from Colorado the Democrats have made gains all across the board.

For President the Democrats are up 9 votes, in the Senate they are up 1 seat and in the House they are up 2 seats.

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archangel

Just to add to PE's good article: I live in colo.

4th C district leans hard right. Musgrave campaigns with scorch and burn philos.... anything in opponent's background will be magnified and flacked repeatedly' ...last election with Paccione was bloodshed at every turn. Musgrave: no holds barred; has huge war chest from R backers. PLenty of ammo, plus recent help to thousands of people during huge damage in N. Colo (her dist) re tornados.

Tancredo's old district, leans not just repub, leans hard right with many moneyed persons willing to throw $$$$$ toward their R candidates. Again huge war chest, Dem opponents traditionally much smaller funds.

Bob Schaffer, like Tancredo, (they are friends,) is adored by Rep backers who see Tancredo and Schaffer as the last fenceline between conservative government, immigrants without papers, et al, and hell. Tancredo's presidential backers will be pouring money on Schaffer. Schaffer's already running huge ads. I get emails every day from Udall's campaign asking for money, saying it's an emergency.

dr.e

neilbco

I moved from Greeley Colorado about a year ago. This was in the middle of Marilyn Musgrave territory. The Democrats in that area are Republicans in the rest of the country. Many Hispanics in Colorado do not vote and if Obama is to carry the state he must do it by courting the "Anglo" vote. The amount of damage to the economy of Colorado will be a major factor in determining who carries the state.

wopper

Allard announced a term limits pledge in 1982. He kept it thru the state senate, US house, and now US senate. I doubt he is stepping down to avoid defeat, i believe he is doing what he always said he would do. Don't be haters.

superdestroyer

Analysis of the presidential election would be more interesting if there was any doubt that Senator Obama is going to win. I find it odd that Colorado is one of those states most affect by transplants. People left California because of unlimited immigration, high taxes, and bad government but then want to recreate the same thing in Colorado.

Patrick E

Sorry for not replying earlier but the power company shut me down all day today.

Thanks for the comments. I agree that any of these races could swing but at this point I think they are tilted to the Democrats.

As to Obama, he is likely to win but nothing is certain in this life. Just ask President Dukakis (who led Bush by 17 points in August 1988) or President Kerry (who led Bush in Summer 2004)

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