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June 06, 2014 04:25 PM UTC

Mike Kopp Makes Pointless Announcement of Running Mate

  • 19 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols
Former Sen. Mike Kopp (R).
Mike Kopp now has a running mate. So, whatever.

You've got to hand it to Republican gubernatorial hopeful Mike Kopp: Nobody drinks more of his own Kool-Aid.

Kopp, one of four candidates running for the GOP nomination for Governor (and the fourth-most likely to win), held a press conference today in Denver to announce he has selected a "running mate" for a campaign that will almost certainly come to an unhappy ending in two weeks.  As Lynn Bartels of the Denver Post reports:

Former Sen. Mike Kopp has chosen former Pueblo city councilwoman Vera Ortegon, a Colombia-born microbiologist, as his running mate.

Kopp is the first of the four Republican candidates for governor to announce his selection for lieutentant governor.

He introduced Ortegon in Denver on Friday morning, and then prepared to make campaign stops in Pueblo and Colorado Springs. Before the official announcement, Ortegon hugged excited family and friends.

"I'm ready to unleash the Colombian hurricane," Kopp said as he introduced Ortegon, referring to her energy.

Um…yeah.

The Post has a great picture of Ortegon "pumping her fist" in front of Kopp at today's announcement, looking about as thrilled as someone whose table just got called at Red Lobster. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall for this conversation when Kopp convinced Ortegon to be his "running mate." This is a candidate, after all, who just finished a bicycle tour of Colorado's least-populated areas. Ortegon seems like she might be a nice choice for a GOP running mate, since she could conceivably help attract both women and Hispanic voters. This is a completely theoretical exercise, however, because Kopp is not going to be the Republican nominee for Governor…which means Ortegon gets to run around the state with him for two weeks for no real reason.

So, that sucks for Ortegon. But at least he waited until after his "bicycle tour" to officially include her in his campaign.

Comments

19 thoughts on “Mike Kopp Makes Pointless Announcement of Running Mate

  1. In 1976, Ronald Reagan was looking at losing the GOP nod to Ford.  Shortly before the GOP convention, he announced Richard Sweicker, a RINO from Pennsylvania, as his running mate to try to dispel the notion that he was too far right to be the nominee.  It worked about as well as Kopp's stunt is going to work.  

    But maybe this will put prressure on the other three to announce their running mates.  Will Tanc team up with Pat Miller again?  Will BWB select Janet "Beastiality Rant" Rowland again?

    1. I don't think the completely irrelevant Kopp has the clout to put any pressure on Tanc or BWB over anything. Why should they care? Guess he hopes this will bring him a little attention. 

    1. That's news to me!

      Would you mind sharing a link to the Yuma Pioneer story? I couldn't find it on their website (and I don't recall writing anything remotely close to that 🙂

       

      1. I've thrown the hard copy of that week away now – it was the edition that came out the week after the session ended. My bad if I misquoted you, MG – if it wasn't you, it would have been in Tony's legislative wrap-up (but it was stated in print!).  Let me see if I can find someone who has that weeks copy. 🙂

      2. I found it.  Yuma Pioneer, May 15, 2014 – Page 3  in an article titled  "State legislature wraps up 2014 session" by Marianne Goodland. (this is from the very last paragraph in the article):

        Sonnenberg is running for Senate District 1 in the fall.  Brophy was a gubernatorial candidate but his candidacy did not survivve the Colorado Republican State Convention.  However, he now is being mentioned as a possible pick for Lt. Governor

        Your article doesn't specifically state that he is a possible pick for Beauprez, but since this article went to press Greg has endorsed Beauprez.  My bad for insinuating you suggest he was Bob's pick.  It's confusing, given that he was cutting deals with Tancredo last go-around (to be his Director of Natural Resources).

         

        1. Much appreciated. I remembered the talk that he was being considered for Light Gov. but there was some back-and-forth about whether it was Beauprez or Tancredo, so I left that out.

  2. Hey everyone! I hope you're all well! Life is good in California – my wife and babyboy are doing great 🙂 I remain a loyal CPols reader, even though I don't have as much time to comment, primarily because… I'm really enjoying this long break from politics (the NYC Mosque took a big bite out of me, in particular, but I will be back) – filmmaking is also occupying my time, which is a blast!

    Anyways – as always – I gotta defend fellow "Pueblo" people. I'm not a fan of Mike Kopp, but he made a good decision here. Vera is a good person. I know her well and she has only the best intentions for Colorado. 

    Is this a dumb move by Mike? I honestly don't think so. Vera now has 2 weeks of the spotlight to speak well and show her good energy. Whatever positive effect she can have on the race, will propel her into many other potential seats. 

    And yes, the metaphor of Reagan reaching for a VP candidate in 76 is a fair point, but….. we're failing to forget that Reagan won 1980. The main point? Vera and Kopp won't win, but…. that's not to say that they can't win future seats. When this election is over, and Cory Gardner has lost, Coffman has lost, and the GOP Governor candidate has lost (and believe me, I will be enjoying all of those loses – lol) there will finally be the needed leadership void in the Colorado GOP, that for once, may actually motivate that sorry ass Party to get its sh*t together (because right now, what's holding the Colorado GOP back is that candidates are not promoted based on merit, they are promoted based on connections, which is why they are losers, figurately and literally). And when the GOP primary voters face 'buyers remorse" over nominating the wrong candidates (after so sustaning so many devastating losses), names like "Kopp" and "Vera" will spring up with fondness, IF Kopp and Vera make a good showing for these next two weeks (and continue helping other candidates for the rest of the election). 

    Chances are…. nothing will happen and this news will become fish-paper tomorrow like most headlines, but…. if Mike and Vera are to continue to have a political future, then the first step in that direction was taken today. 

    Lastly – memo to Udall's camp – don't hold back on Cory Gardner. Keep the flame going. We're not just ruining Cory's chances for 2014…. we need to ruin them for 2016 too (re: Bennett). 

    1. Hey, Ali, welcome back.  The main caveat I have to your post is that the Repubs here have shown no buyer's remorse (pun intended) over nominating Ken Buck (loser extraordinaire) and  the ever scintillating Dan Maes.  (Beauprez and Brophy teaming up, I mean really!)

      The Tea Party in other states is busily giving the Democratic Party new hope in what should be easy elections for the Repub side.

      Michigan Repubs are trying to alienate women faster than the Colorado Repubs.  (Playing the Dating Game music during a half-hearted Repub Governor candidate debate is a bit worse than reading Harper's and Glamour at the State House as proof you understand women's concerns:  http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/michigan-republicans-women-s-magazines) but not a whole lot).

      I do agree that Udall's camp needs to keep pushing the O+G connection to Gardner (as recent polling showed that given the fracking debate going on now makes folks eye Gardner askance).

      Early on a Saturday and I'm moving my office, so I apologize for all the parentheses.

    2. Ali, glad to see you are well.  The issue here isn't whether Vera is a good/bad choice.  The issue here is that it is an irrelevant choice.  Kopp is an after thought in this race. 

      1. I won't let this rare opportunity of totally agreeing wth you slip by. Exactly right, Elliot. Who cares? And nice to see you here Ali. All the best to your family.

  3. Miguel…good to hear all is well.

     what's holding the Colorado GOP back is that candidates are not promoted based on merit, they are promoted based on connections,

    Bingo…give the man a cigar!

     

  4. Unsurprisingly, Colorado Pols doesn't actually know what's going on in the GOP race. Vera Ortegon has been Mike Kopp's top fundraiser and has been with him everywhere he goes on the campaign trail when it comes to debates and fundraising. And before you say he's raised no money, he in fact has raised the same amount of money as Bob Beauprez. 

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