McInnis v. Penry: Now It's War

Interesting

It is interesting that Penry and McInnis managed to raise twice as much combined as an incumbent Governor.  

Maybe the Democrats ought to consider an alternative to Ritter. David Skaggs is one option.  

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by: ArdentAdmirer2 @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 15:25:40 PM UTC

On the other hand

Maybe one of them will be kind enough to supply Dems with a great put down of the other as the Rs did in handing us the unforgettable and highly effective "Both Ways Bob" meme. The Rs pretty much wrote the anti-Bob ads for us.  Could we get just as lucky again?  

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by: BlueCat @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 15:42:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

As smart and as good as he is

Skaggs could not win statewide.  He is either too liberal, or percieved as too liberal.  You can choose between the two : )

" The webinar is free, however, there are only 250 spaces available "

Some douche

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by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 16:05:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

McInnis is avoiding it now ...

but there's bound to be an intraparty squabble by next August at the latest. He can't duck it forever.

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by: OneEyedOwl @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 15:27:47 PM UTC

he's not planning on ducking forever

   He said it's simply too early in the campaign for things to get ugly.  He was not specific when the Ugly Season should begin.
  I'm guessing it's whenever he returns to Caplis & Silverman Show.

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by: One Queer Dude @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 18:28:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I almost felt sorry for Penry this a.m.

This a.m., I'm listening to the radio and they're talking about the numbers posted in the governor's race. Specifically, Mcinnis's take for the last quarter and then compared to Ritter's take.

And then, they add this, "Dan Maes and Josh Penry are also running for the Republican nomination for Governor."

That was it! That was all the nod he got in the whole segment. When you come in 3rd in the money game, I guess you get relegated to Cleve Tidwell status.

If I was McInnis, I'd ignore him too. You can do that for more than a little while when you're the front runner.  

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

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by: Middle of the Road @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 15:43:54 PM UTC

Blue Cat's right....

Recently there was an article - you may have covered it in CoPols that said the ultra right R's would rather win a primary and lose a general election to keep R's in line.  Penry and crew seemed to have bought into the plan. I agree with McInnis strategy - make room under the big tent for everyone including Indys if he wants to win in 2010.  

If you're not upset, you haven't been paying attention.  Mike Littwin

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by: Ellie @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 15:55:45 PM UTC

the ultra right R's would rather win a primary and lose a general election to keep R's in line

Bob Schaffer is Exhibit A in support of that theory.

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by: One Queer Dude @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 18:29:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

McInnis and big tent

Actually, McInnis is throwing the ranchers and farmers of Colorado under the bus - at least temporarily. His strategy is to suck up to El Paso County with the Pinon Canyon issue, win the primary, then come on as some kind of peacemaker with a compromise to make the ranchers and businessmen of El Paso County kiss and make up. Divide and conquer!

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by: PeaksnPasses @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 00:24:01 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

In Apt Metaphor

Not merely inept.

Now It's War

Here we are discussing very real human costs of a couple of real wars. We are trying to come to grips with the motivation for the latest Peace Prize award.

And yet some still try to convince us that "war" is an appropriate metaphor for a political campaign?

A more appropriate heading for this diary:

McInnis v. Penry: Now It's Time To Start Calling Each Other Names And Other Juvenile Tactics Of Modern American Political Campaigning

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge." --ChuckieD, 1871

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by: ardy39 @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 16:06:39 PM UTC

Anybody see Kenny Be's latest cartoon in Westword?

It's a pretty damn hilarious assessment of the Republican field in all the major races.

http://www.westword.com/comics...

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by: redstateblues @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 17:01:38 PM UTC

Odd

I find it odd the Republican Party would rally behind Penry (and it's obvious they've already choosen sides, hypocrits). He trashes the party for their past and its handling of policy etc., yet people on his campaign team were part of that problem, specifically, those employed by the Bush administration.

Besides, he's running on "change" and we see how well thats worked out. If all Penry's got is his, "I'm going to change the party" bit, I'm not buying it. He's a child in a grownups game. He should try running after he's had some experience in the Senate or maybe he should try working the private sector for a bit, instead of having the taxpayers foot his paycheck all his adult life.  

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by: crazypoliticians @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 02:05:54 AM UTC

It's not a "war"

Penry, despite his fundraising in the last quarter, faces what looks to me to be a steep uphill climb.  McInnis, for all his faults, has better name recognition, a longer and more distinguished track record, most likely superior stamina in terms of fundraising, and far better political and financial connections outside Colorado.  Leading 40-12 in the one poll I've seen doesn't hurt either, regardless of what the straw poll said.  I think it's only a race if McInnis allows it to become one, and I think he's smart to take steps to not allow it to develop into a race.

Along that line, I think the quote provided by Middle Of The Road is telling--and damning: "Dan Maes and Josh Penry are also running . . . "  

That's not to say that Penry couldn't win the nomination.  As someone who supports Gov. Ritter, I hope Penry does, because I think he would be crushed in the general by Gov. Ritter.  The ideal scenario for Gov. Ritter is a bitter primary fight that leaves the eventual nominee so damaged that they can't mount an effective campaign.

Discipline without purpose is tyranny.

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by: Automaticftp @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 15:15:11 PM UTC

You mean

a bitter primary fight that leaves the eventual nominee so damaged that they can't mount an effective campaign

Like Bennet/Romanoff, right?

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same.  Which one will it be?  --Joseph V. Paterno

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by: Ralphie @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 19:01:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yep.

That's why I believe Romanoff owes it to the party and the state to withdraw.

Discipline without purpose is tyranny.

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by: Automaticftp @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 19:11:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I do enjoy reading Pols, but ...

whoever you all are who post on the front page have just the most hilariously awful political judgment I think I've ever seen, at least among people who are interested in the topic. Perhaps it reflects the "conventional wisdom" of a small circle of Denver-based Democratic political nerds who are not plugged into any other political worlds, whatever. If so, you should get out more. But I'm telling you, the "conventional wisdom" of political types outside of that world never thought Josh Penry would outraise Scott McInnis! Why on earth would you think that? Penry's base are ultra-social-conservative types, McInnis' more socially moderate fiscal conservatives. Who has more money? Also, there's the little matter of McInnis' many years raising millions for federal races, and his current gig moving among monied types in Denver. For most of us, it has always been a given that the primary would turn on Penry's people versus McInnis' money.

Other strange judgments:

1. Romanoff has a chance. Come on. And I support him! OK, maybe he has a chance, but he's a huge underdog and has no contrasting message that works. Plus little money.
2. Polis' first year in office has been anything other than spectacular. I would suggest you go out and talk to more CD2 voters, but then, you always did have a blind spot about him.
3. Betsy Markey is "on her way" to an easy win. I don't know if you know CD4 very well, but if Markey-Gardner were today, she'd lose. Badly.

But all that said, I keep coming back here, so you're doing something right!

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by: BoulderDem @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 20:21:26 PM UTC

Other Penry base:

Big energy.  They have more money than anyone.  Forgivable mistake if you're really from Boulder.  West-Slopers know it, however.

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same.  Which one will it be?  --Joseph V. Paterno

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by: Ralphie @ Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 20:58:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks for reading.

Now, if we can just get some reading comprehension to go along with your loyal reading, we'll be getting somewhere.

1. We've been clear in several posts, as well as the Big Line, that McInnis has the ability to raise the money he needs. We began this post by saying we don't subscribe to the conventional wisdom in question. But if you don't think the Republican grassroots are trending solidly Penry, or composed of considerably more than "ultra-social-conservative types," we question what 'political nerds' you get your advice from. We also agree with Ralphie re: energy dollars, but to be fair we can see them splitting the difference between Penry and McInnis.

2. Please show us where we have ever portrayed Romanoff's chances unrealistically. He is what he is to this race--kindly support these statements with evidence we are making the claim you say we are.

3. It's true that many CD-2 voters, particularly those who haven't followed his actions in the health care debate closely, have no reason to believe that Polis has done them wrong. Hopefully for him they will continue to not follow the debate closely.

4. When the hell have we ever said that Markey was "on her way" to an "easy win?" That tears it--you are reading somebody else's blog.

But we're glad you keep reading this one, too.

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by: Colorado Pols @ Sun Oct 11, 2009 at 00:25:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Post agrees with the Pols

McInnis' fundraising foreshadows tight gubernatorial race
http://www.denverpost.com/poli...

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Scott McInnis raised more in the third quarter than incumbent Democrat Gov. Bill Ritter, surprising politics watchers in the first peek at the former congressman's fundraising efforts.

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Hey, BD, did you ever figure out if "the base" supports Ritter or not?

http://coloradopols.com/showCo...

A lot of the Dem base still likes Ritter.

I say that also because Bennet is tied at the hip to Ritter, who is becoming very unpopular in the Dem base.

You're a little confusing to follow sometimes, buddy.

Yo quiero gobierno medio!

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by: JeffcoBlue @ Sun Oct 11, 2009 at 13:06:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]