April 01, 2009 03:00 PM UTC

Bennet to Run for Governor, Not Senate, in 2010

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: Gov. Ritter is set to announce that he will run for the U.S. Senate in 2010 rather than challenge Bennet. “The Governor wanted to appoint himself to the Senate all along, and this gives him the opportunity to fix his mistake,” said spokesman Evan Dreyer.

Senator Michael Bennet stunned politicos across Colorado today by saying that he would run for Governor in 2010 and not seek election to the U.S. Senate. Bennet was appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter in January to fill the seat vacated by Ken Salazar, who left to become Secretary of the Interior.

In announcing his decision to run for Governor, Bennet cited his own controversial appointment.

“Anybody who would appoint an unknown Denver Schools Superintendent to be a U.S. Senator is clearly not fit to serve as Governor of this great state,” said Bennet. “I have enjoyed my time in the Senate, but with apologies to Groucho Marx, I cannot be a part of any legislative body that would have me as a member.”

Bennet got a head start on what should be a bruising primary by promising Democrats to do “what Ritter should have done in the first place.”

“If elected Governor, I will immediately appoint Andrew Romanoff to his rightful place in the U.S. Senate,” declared Bennet.

That promise appeared to pay immediate dividends for Bennet when Romanoff announced that he would no longer be considering a potential run for Governor. “I can think of no better person to serve as Colorado’s next Governor than Michael Bennet,” said Romanoff in a prepared statement. “Michael and I have similar views on a multitude of issues, including that neither of us believe he should have been appointed to the U.S. Senate.”

More information on Bennet’s campaign for Governor is available at www.AprilFools.com. This is an open thread.