October 19, 2009 08:11 PM UTC

Slater Pulls Out of Race for Attorney General

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• by: Colorado Pols

Well, so much for that.

Democrat Dan Slater is pulling out of the race for Attorney General after just a few weeks campaigning, writing to supporters that he just didn’t have the fire to run a statewide race.

Full announcement after the jump.  

This is the second time I’ve run for elective office.  I’ve counseled numerous candidates on what they need to know and do to be effective candidates.  I’ve been to some of the best political trainings in the nation.  So I know what it takes to be a winning candidate in a tough race.

And, after just two and a half weeks of this race, something has become all too clear:  I don’t have it.

In 2002, I had it.  I had a “fire in the belly” that could only be quenched by knocking on doors, by dialing for dollars, and by talking to groups, winning votes one person at a time.  It was my top priority — winning that state senate seat.  It was exciting.  It was invigorating.  It was such a high — from the very first day until that election night when I delivered a concession speech.  

Those feelings are feelings I just don’t have this year. I thought I’d have them.  I thought I’d be burning up the phone lines raising money.

I could definitely fake it.  I could keep going, putting on a good face.  And if I truly were the “sacrificial lamb” candidate many have alleged, I would probably do that.  But I truly think John Suthers has done a horrible job as Attorney General, and we Democrats have a clear opening to beat him in 2010.  I just don’t think I have what it takes to do it.

I recognize that this “in and out” campaign will certainly open me up to ridicule.  That’s fine.  I’m just not ready to put my family, and my finances, under the strain that a 13-month statewide campaign would mean.  I spent the last several days with my kids in Oklahoma.  I want to spend the majority of Christmas break and Spring Break, and next summer with them, not out on the campaign trail.  And I also don’t want to miss our twins’ soccer games and school functions and key moments just because I need to be out talking to voters.  At one point in my life, I was willing to make that sacrifice.  In looking at how I feel this year, I don’t think I can make that sacrifice for this election cycle.

Finally, my work as First Vice Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party — a role I take very seriously — was suffering from the campaign.  I have been the chair of the 2010 Site Selection Committee, yet this campaign forced me to drop the ball at a critical time in the site selection process.  Thankfully, we have a great committee who — under the leadership of El Paso County Chair Jason DeGroot, who assumed a leadership position without any warning — did a site visit yesterday, and should have a recommendation next weekend for the State Executive Committee.  But my putting Jason in the position where he had to lead the committee is inexcusable.  You should expect better from you State First Vice Chair, and I expect better from myself.  So I will spend the next 12 and a half months working as your Vice Chair and speaking out when things need to be said.

So that’s it.  I won’t be a candidate for Attorney General — or anything else, for that matter — in 2010.  I greatly appreciate the hundreds of you out there who offered your support, both morally and financially, to start this campaign.  In the end, we made just enough money to pay most of the campaign’s initial expenses.  So for those of you who contributed, I thank you for your vote of confidence, and I’m just sorry I let you down.

I’ll still post to DemNotes and I’ll still fight for our Party.  See you on the trail!