Robert Ramirez Bounces Back to HD 29 Race

by: ProgressiveCowgirl

Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 16:26:33 PM MST

Rumors and predictions after the jump:

Rumor has it that more went into this decision than a case of cold feet. A primary threat, to be specific: Word is, Lang Sias will run in SD 19, and Ramirez couldn't talk Sias (last seen getting clobbered by Ryan Frazier in a CD7 primary) into taking on HD 29 instead. So, to avoid a Republican primary, Ramirez left the Senate race and headed back to his own.

Not necessarily a surprising decision; what's surprising is that he ventured into the Senate race to begin with, particularly if Sias had already made his interest clear. Of course a new candidate with a fair amount of Republican goodwill backing him wouldn't want to run for a House seat that its incumbent occupant didn't even care to defend, when there's a Senate race on the table with plenty of special interest money lined up to attack the Democratic incumbent.

Of course, whether Ramirez ultimately sticks with the House or flip-flops back to the Senate, both he and Sias have a tough climb ahead of them. Ramirez is facing one hell of a determined campaigner in Tracy Kraft-Tharp, and Sias looks to be taking on a popular incumbent with more Jeffco campaign experience than Ramirez and Sias put together. If I had any hand in making the JeffcoPols big line (whenever that's due to happen), I'd give Ramirez no better than even odds, and call Sias a serious long shot.