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Rothenberg Political Report Not There Yet

by: Colorado Pols

Tue Oct 06, 2009 at 09:34:03 AM MDT


The Rothenberg Political Report recently released new assessments of Colorado's Senate race and Governor's race, and we think they've got the assessments a little, um, not correct.

Rothenberg lists Sen. Michael Bennet as having a "Clear Advantage for Incumbent Party," while Gov. Bill Ritter is listed as a "Toss-Up." We think they've got both races listed incorrectly, because we'd put both the Senate and Governor's race in the "Narrow Advantage for Incumbent Party" position.

This is a classic example of Washington D.C. outsiders looking at races across the country based on limited information. For example, Republican Josh Penry has been getting good national press as the "new, fresh face" in Colorado Republican politics, but that ignores the facts: Scott McInnis beats him easily in head-to-head polling, and Penry has yet to show that he can be a strong fund raiser. Ritter is by no means safe for re-election, but given that there is a tough GOP primary with two flawed candidates, this is still his race to lose.

On the Senate side, Bennet has a tough primary with House Speaker Andrew Romanoff and finally has a strong potential GOP challenger in Jane Norton. Again, this is Bennet's race to lose, but we certainly wouldn't say he has a "clear advantage" at winning re-election.

What say you?

Colorado Pols :: Rothenberg Political Report Not There Yet
Poll
Which Democratic Seat is Most Likely to Stay in Democratic Hands?
U.S. Senate (Bennet or Romanoff)
Governor (Ritter)

Results

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I see the same thing on Daily Kos.
You'll see Marcos commenting on a race and about half way through his commentary, it becomes obvious he has no clue about the inner workings of that particular race. More often than not, these guys are working off of one or two local people's biased impressions or anecdotal evidence and have no clue abut the machinations occurring at the state level.

I'd say the "Narrow Advantage" category is about right for both races although in Ritter's case, there is a real possibility it could move into "Tossup." Then again, if his opponents fundraising numbers are weak, he's in better shape than Rothenberg is indicating.  

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork


I would add that they are dead on regarding VA and NY.
In Patterson's case, a primary challenger from another Dem would virtually be the nail in his coffin. Most of the time it's considered a bad idea to primary an incumbent (see Romanoff's own admission that this is why he is not challenging Ritter) but in the case of NY, I think this is a real opportunity for a Democrat to make their move because Patterson is so weak.

As for Deeds in VA, his campaign seems to be floundering and hasn't really picked up steam or interest from the grassroots folks that usually do the heavy lifting. It may have something to do with sour grapes from  Brian Moran supporters who are still bitter over his losing the primary (which ought to be a wake up call to folks here in Colorado that are engaging in half baked bullshit with our Senatorial primary.) That primary got really nasty with serious shit being flung back and forth between Moran and McAuliffe supporters. Deeds kept it pretty clean but it seems there is some fallout and residual bitterness from the primary.

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork


[ Parent ]
Both NY and Virginia are closer to DC
Particularly Virginia, which makes it easier for them to assess these races.

[ Parent ]
You'd think
they would at least interview locals to get a better sense of the races. They can't possibly have a good grip on what's happening on the ground here in Colorado from D.C.

[ Parent ]
NY and DC also have real newspapers
Accurate information isn't as hard to come by.

Its just like Further, but with tax cuts! - Fidel's Dirt Nap

[ Parent ]
Tip ONeill had it right....
when he said "All politics is local"  

It's only class warfare if you fight back

Has anyone
seen any head-to-head Bennet/Romanoff polling yet?

just on Pols
but then we don't count

It's only class warfare if you fight back

[ Parent ]
Depends on how much you think you can trust
a Tarrance Group Poll. This one came out on the 21st and has Bennet leading Romanoff 41% to 27% with 31% undecided.

http://www.coloradopolicyinsti...

Obviously there's good reason to be skeptical about Tarrance Group, so take it for what it's worth.

"If someone just sticks to shutting the fuck up, can they still go outside and play a game of hide and go fuck yourself?" -- Fidel's Dirt Nap



[ Parent ]
wasn't that the same poll that showed 61% of EL PASO COUNTY supported repealing TABOR?


[ Parent ]
Sorry, 32% undecided
apologies

"If someone just sticks to shutting the fuck up, can they still go outside and play a game of hide and go fuck yourself?" -- Fidel's Dirt Nap



[ Parent ]
Yeah
I probably should have said "...besides the Tarrance Group's poll."

[ Parent ]
I suppose
you take what you can get though, you know?

"If someone just sticks to shutting the fuck up, can they still go outside and play a game of hide and go fuck yourself?" -- Fidel's Dirt Nap



[ Parent ]
Strange
Normally Pols Bloggers have lots of information on who has raised how much?

Ritter's fundraising is adequate. Not great, not terrible but adequate.  I will go out on a limb and predict that McInnis and Penry combined will only raise slightly more than what Ritter has raised this past quarter. Neither has gotten anyone excited.  


Fly Over State
Bennet has effective message machine in DC media circles through his brother Jim Bennet editor of the Atlantic.  DC media getting the spin that Bennet and Romanoff have similar views on all the issues and the primary is just a grudge match between Ritter and Romanoff.

Romanoff needs to fight this or his candidacy will never get traction in DC.



How is that not an accurate portrayal of the race?


[ Parent ]
In this case
"the spin" is accurate.

[ Parent ]
Bottom Up vs.Top Down
Most primaries are between candidates with similar views on the issues and get down to candidate values.  Clear difference between Romanoff and Bennet is that Romanoff is bottom up Dem and Bennet a top down Dem.

Think 2008 Obama/Clinton and not a primary but Salazar/Coors general.


[ Parent ]
Experience vs. Outsider As Well
Though in legislative experience vs. outsider area it makes it different than Obama/Clinton.  Romanoff has lots of campaign experience and a legislative record that will both help and hurt him while Bennett is a blank slate without campaign experience.  Both Obama and Clinton were experienced in running a campaign, but Clinton clearly had the edge having been closely involved in prior presidential bids.  And she also came with a reputation that helped and hurt her.  Obama did a good job of writing onto his blank slate what people wanted in a candidate and he turned out to have better campaigning skills.

This is a bit of a grudge match, but it is also about who can better do two very different jobs.  As far as being a legislator, that's probably Romanoff.  In running campaigns it remains to be seen.  Bennett could surprise me, but I think Romanoff will do better.  The question is if it will be good enough to overcome the natural reluctance of party voters to change out even an appointed Senator.

Matthew


[ Parent ]
Is that the only difference you see?
Because that's not much.

As far as policy goes, Romanoff hasn't had very much to say on that front. He got up in front of an HD-4 meeting recently and didn't give any specifics about policy--basically repeating the same speech he gave on Your Show with Adam Schrager.


[ Parent ]
I agree....
Romanoff has to differentiate himself on at least a couple fundamental issues. Otherwise, what's the point?

Ted Kennedy challenged the sitting President in 1980, but failed to articulate a reason why he deserved to be president instead of Carter, other than "my name is Kennedy and therefore I have some intrinsic claim on the presidency".

Romanoff was the first choice of most rank and file Dems (including me), but if its perceived he's running because somebody made a mistake and didn't pick him in the first place, the party is over before it starts.  

It's only class warfare if you fight back


[ Parent ]
Ritter is probably in more danger than Bennet/Romanoff is in holding the Senate seat, but.....
...Ritter can still win this.  His approval ratings are still in the upper 40% range (almost the same as his disapproval rating), but this is pretty good compared to other governors in CA, NY, and NJ (wh have approval rating comparable to G.W. Bush during the final days of his reign).
  On top of that, his opponent will be either a young, inexperienced ("if you're being wheeled into the O.R., do you want the guy just out of medical school to operate?") extremist, or a seasoned lawyer-lobbyist with a mercurial temper.
  All things are relative.  

Another factor
As I recall, Colorado usually does give it's governors two terms, absent something really egregious.  Not that I have researched it - just from memory.  My impression is people maybe stick with executives more than with legislators.  

[ Parent ]
That is likely...
the best thing going for Ritter.

"But when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh, shut up!' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining."  Glenn Beck  

[ Parent ]
Of the following who has raised the most money?
In the last quarter which of these challengers raised the most money?

Josh Penry
Scott McInnis
Andrew Romanoff
Ken Buck
Ryan Frazier
Jane Norton
Cory Gardner

My guess Cory Gardner. I also think that Michael Bennet raised more than all seven of the above candidates combined. As for Ritter he had a good quarter. He raised maybe 1/6 of what Bennet raised.


Both races will be tough and close in my opinion
I don't see this really as news.

I know who I'm backing. I know that I'll back the Democratic ticket no matter who heads it too.

 

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric


I think it depends on unemployment
If the economy is still in the crapper it's going to be very bad for us Dems. But if unemployment is headed down and people are optimistic about the future, then it's another Dem sweep.

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

Absolutely
I think D incumbents need a strategy based on a slow recovery (employment lags & so does tax revenues), but hope for a quicker one.

In Colorado they may be reason to hope for a quick recovery (nationally not so much).

If the recovery is apparent Ds  win in a walk and we will look back with 20/20 hindsight and wonder why we were all freaking out.  If the economy is in the dump, there's not a lot we can do except defend the house and senate majorities, and accept some erosion.


[ Parent ]
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