January 07, 2009 07:55 PM UTC

Schumer Heart Bennet--Who The Hell Cares?

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• by: Colorado Pols

As the Rocky Mountain News reports:

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, praised Bennet’s selection on Tuesday, despite political analysts – both Democratic and Republican – who called Gov. Bill Ritter’s appointment of Bennet risky.

Was Bennet the strongest person Ritter could have appointed? Many had expected him to tap better-known Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper or a political veteran.

“I’m not going to compare. He was a very strong choice, and we’re very pleased with it,” Schumer said. “I spent an hour with him yesterday, and the guy’s got the goods.”

That’s super. Schumer is super. Still, we can’t help but wait until, you know, the people of Colorado–yeah, that pesky flyover electorate–know enough about Bennet to, um, decide for themselves if they agree.

This is not idle gadfly kvetching, okay? First impressions are being made all over the state regarding this appointment, and a lot of them aren’t real good. Bennet may have eighteen months to serve before the next election but the window to his getting off on the right foot with the voters is closing rapidly. Every day that passes with even loyal Democrats asking “Mike Who?” is going to cost Bennet precious time and money to overcome. Moreover, it’s been nearly a week and we have yet to see any meaningful issue ground staked out other than ‘glittering generalities’ from Bennet and chorus–this is totally unacceptable and invites “Silent” Bob Schaffer-style criticism.

For our part, we have some measure of trust that Bennet will ultimately put forward a reasonable moderate Democratic platform, knowing what we know about his record and the parties involved with his selection. But it’s suicidal to imagine a majority of Colorado voters will be so deferential.

Less gladhanding in DC, more bus touring in Colorado–and right now, please.