Notable Links

Denver Internet Marketing by Parallel Path

Arvada Boutique Clothing Store Stella B's

CD-6 Republican Assembly Tomorrow

by: Colorado Pols

Fri May 16, 2008 at 10:24:35 AM MDT

As The Denver Post reports:

The race to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo hits its first checkpoint this weekend, when Republicans in the 6th Congressional District hold their assembly.
Five Republicans are vying to replace Tancredo, a sometimes controversial conservative who decided not to seek re-election.
Saturday's assembly, at the Doug las County Events Center, provides the first chance to winnow the field. But the event has lost a little of its luster because the two heavyweights in the race in terms of fundraising - Secretary of State Mike Coffman and mortgage banker Wil Armstrong - are forgoing the assembly and petitioning onto the ballot.
That leaves state Sens. Ted Harvey and Steve Ward and Aurora electrical engineer Pepito Castellanes fighting it out to secure the 30 percent of the votes at the assembly needed to make the primary ballot.
"All I care about is getting on the ballot at this point," Harvey said...
...Coffman, who leads in fundraising with more than $324,000 on hand, has painted himself as the candidate of experience and credibility.
"I am a very strong fiscal conservative," Coffman said.
Armstrong, who is the son of former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong and is second in fundraising with $283,000 on hand, portrays himself as a fresh voice.
"We feel Wil is the right guy to change the way Congress is doing businesses," said Armstrong's campaign manager, Jack Stansbery...
...Earlier this year, Coffman's campaign conducted a poll that found Coffman was the heavy favorite in the race. But Stansbery, Armstrong's campaign manager, says a lot has changed since then.

Our view? The outcome here is largely irrelevant unless Steve Ward is a runaway winner. Harvey will certainly make it onto the ballot, but his inclusion in the field makes no real difference except for a spoiler role; Harvey's inability to raise money has made this a two-horse race between Coffman and Armstrong--no matter what happens today.

Colorado Pols :: CD-6 Republican Assembly Tomorrow

Tags: mike coffman, (All Tags)

Share this post:

CD-6 Republican Assembly Tomorrow | 21 comments

Here is the correct link to the whole story:

http://www.denverpost.com/news...

by: MileHighDaredevil @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 16:45:31 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Pepito Castellanes another Tancredo?

"(Pepito) Castellanes is a recent addition to the race and has vowed to introduce a constitutional amendment limiting who can claim U.S. citizenship by birthright."

http://www.castellanesforcongr...

An immigrant who wants to restrict citizenship?

by: MileHighDaredevil @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 16:54:31 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Quit insulting Pepito!

"Why not do the right thing for the American people, even though it's not exactly what we want." - Speaker Boehner

by: Half Glass Full @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 19:42:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

It's tomorrow dumbass...

by: 5 minutes alone @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 17:40:40 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Who you callin' dumbass? And why?

The headline says "tomorrow." Today is Friday. That makes tomorrow Saturday. Which is when the assembly is.

"Why not do the right thing for the American people, even though it's not exactly what we want." - Speaker Boehner

by: Half Glass Full @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 19:46:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Just likes to say "dumbass" in public

(or maybe Pols changed the headline)

by: RedGreen @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 20:00:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Pols did change the headline...

Sorry if I offended any donkeys out there!

by: 5 minutes alone @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 20:14:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why is Coffman petitioning onto the ballot?

One would think he could win the assembly in a walk. Is there something I'm missing?

by: Haners @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 17:43:32 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

That was my thought too

This seems very weird.

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

by: DavidThi808 @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 17:54:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

My guess is

he wants to have more people on the ballot. Every time Coffman has gone through the assembly process he has kept all of his opponents off the ballot. With his unmatchable name id, having more people rahter than one, is to his advantage. Armstrong, Ward and Harvey will be left fighting over the scraps. Its similiar to the CD5 race where if there was just one opponent Lamborn might lose, but with two he will stay in Congress. I think Coffman dominates this race.

by: jimmypilgrim @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 17:56:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Interesting theory

It makes sense.

But wouldn't it be in Coffman's best interest to go to the assembly, blow away the competition, make them petition onto the ballot under the stigma that they got their butts kicked at the assembly?

by: Haners @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 18:13:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Petitioning in this district is interesting

The Sec. of State's office has already said they will not be the ones verifying Coffman's petitions. However, I believe they are still verifying those of his opponents.

In the spirit of disclosure: When I say "they" I should say "we" as I am part of the team temporarily hired by the SoS to verify petitions. We do both candidate and initiative petitions.

Retirement in action does not equal retirement of beliefs.

by: Dan Willis @ Sun May 18, 2008 at 21:37:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's a really good guess

Clever!

"Why not do the right thing for the American people, even though it's not exactly what we want." - Speaker Boehner

by: Half Glass Full @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 19:39:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

I think

this is a smart move. There have been reports of Harvey stacking delegates in Douglas County. Plus Wil Armstrong will most likely be Coffman's main primary opponent. Why would Coffman waist time and resources fighting over 600 delegates while Wil is out taking to a larger audience. We all know that just because you win the assembly doesn't mean you will win the primary. Seems like he is more focused on winning in August.

by: fathawk @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 18:04:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

There have been reports of Harvey stacking delegates in Douglas County

More like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Samsnead has it right. The grown ups are petitioning onto the ballot, but turning this into a five-way race is definitely good strategy for Coffman.
Here's hoping that Ward, Harvey and Pepito finish with a 33-33-34 split, and Pepito gets top line on the primary ballot.
BTW, is Tancredo giving any kind of farewell address to the C.D. 6 Repubs?

by: One Queer Dude @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 19:14:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Petitioning broadens a candidate's base

There are only 669 delegate slots at the 6th CD Republican Assembly, so a candidate -- needing just 30% to make the ballot -- only has to get 201 votes on Saturday.

To petition on to the ballot takes 1,000 valid registered Republican signatures. That is five times what is needed at the assembly. No candidate, going the petition route, is going to hand in just a 1,000 signatures for verification. He will more likely hand in 2,000 or more... which would be at least ten times more than would be needed at the assembly.

Petitioning on gets a candidate's name out before likely primary voters more than going the assembly route does.

There really isn't any right, or wrong, way about how one chooses to get on the ballot. In the end, Coffman, Armstrong, Ward, and Harvey will all be on the August primary ballot. The question will then be who has the support and resources to compete between May 18th and August 12th?

Nobody is perfect and nobody needs to be.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

by: DrewKerin @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 19:27:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Sounds like the Toliet Bowl to me

Who really wants to go and listen to Steve "I'm a legend in my own mind" Ward, Ted "I'm more suited for Seinfeld" Harvey and some guy who probably won't make the ballot. Let me know when a debate with the real players will take place.

by: samsnead @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 17:43:45 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

I can see his point but......

While I am on the fence (no pun intended) on the immigration issue, I can understand his viewpoint. I know many legal immigrants for whom it is very hard to support illegal immigration after they themselves have undergone the process and played by the rules. I am not saying I agree with the gentleman but just that I understand the motivation.

Granted, the rules are in serious need of an overhaul. Having spent a lot of time in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, I have personally seen cases where our citizenship birthright laws are abused.

It is quite common all along the Mexico-U.S. border to see middle and upper class Mexican citizens come across the border on a visa, give birth and go right back to Mexico. With their citizenship the children can qualify for a variety of benefits like a passport, petitioning for family members when they come of age, etc. yet they live in Mexico and do not contribute to this country. I think it's wrong. And it has nothing to do with racism or anti Mexican sentiment. If you're going to come here, work hard, love this country and teach your children to love this country then I think that's great. But if you're just going to take advantage of this great place then I think that's shameless.

Just my two cents.

by: Bankers hours @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 17:49:01 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Coloradopols is right on

The outcome of this is largely irrelevant. If Harvey does lose to Ward then he should drop out immediately. Other than that who cares.Personally, i'm going for the free food.

by: Joe Dirte @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 18:10:12 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

"Pepito"?

Pepito: Abysmal.

He should call himself Pepe: that's a good, strong name.

Or better yet to appeal to my fellow CD6 Bubbas: Pete.

"Why not do the right thing for the American people, even though it's not exactly what we want." - Speaker Boehner

by: Half Glass Full @ Fri May 16, 2008 at 19:41:34 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

6th CD Republican Assembly Results

This was a bit like watching the consolation round of a sports tournament. The exterior of the Douglas County Fairgrounds was a sea of Mike Coffman and Wil Armstrong signs, even though neither candidate had a role in what was going on inside. Those two are moving on to the championship round via the petition route.

The polling finished as follows:

Ted Harvey 325 53.4%
Steve Ward 260 42.7%
Pepito Castellanos 24 3.9%

For CU Regent, Dr. Jim Geddes won by acclamation. Incumbent Paul Schauer is petitioning on to the primary ballot.

Nobody is perfect and nobody needs to be.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

by: DrewKerin @ Sat May 17, 2008 at 21:52:22 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

CD-6 Republican Assembly Tomorrow | 21 comments