January 06, 2010 05:12 AM UTC

BREAKING: Ritter Ends Re-Election Campaign

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE #4: Sources are confirming the Denver Post’s list of three equally-weighted possibilities right now to replace Ritter: Hickenlooper, Rep. Ed Perlmutter, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Please note that is not a misprint for Ken’s brother (we asked). Developing…

UPDATE #3: Denver Post reports Ritter will announce his decision to withdraw at an 11AM news conference tomorrow.

UPDATE #2: Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, folks. That’s what we’re hearing tonight, along with the words “incredible gift”–very few men get two chances to be a hero.

UPDATE: The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza now confirming:

Colorado is now the eleventh open seat Democrats must defend this year although the other ten seats are being vacated as a result of term limits. Republicans also have eleven open seats of their own to defend. There are 37 governors races on the ballot this fall.

Taegan Goddard at Political Wire is reporting:

A source tells Political Wire that Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) is ending his re-election campaign. A fundraiser scheduled for tonight was canceled and all campaign staff was sent home in the middle of the day.

The decision does not appear to be fundraising related which has reportedly gone better than expected.