January 06, 2010 05:25 PM UTC

Wednesday Ritter Withdrawal Open Thread

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE #6: Rep. Ed Perlmutter tells 9NEWS he’ll support Salazar. That’s everybody, right?

UPDATE #5: At a press conference this afternoon, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper did not rule out a run for Governor, stating he would decide in the next few days. Hickenlooper indicated strongly that the forthcoming decision of Ken Salazar would directly affect his own, offering to ‘be Ken’s first volunteer’ should he choose to run.

UPDATE #4: Denver Post reports that Ken Salazar has secured White House approval to resign his post as Interior Secretary and run for Governor:

The White House would not object if Interior Secretary Ken Salazar chose to resign his cabinet post and run for Colorado governor, sources tell The Denver Post.

The White House’s stance on whether Salazar can leave the cabinet on good terms is a key variable in the race to replace Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter, who announced this morning that he would not seek re-election.

According to sources with knowledge of the conversations, Salazar was encouraged by the White House to remain in the administration, citing an agenda on climate change and retooling energy policy. But administration officials said they would support him if he felt it was in the best interests of the party and the state to return to Colorado.

UPDATE #3: All signs are pointing to Ken Salazar as the next Democratic candidate for Governor. We’re hearing that an official decision is all but done. Rep. John Salazar certainly wouldn’t have gone on the record urging his brother to run for Governor if he didn’t know what Ken was thinking, and there is more and more discussion that this is almost certainly going to happen.

UPDATE #2: The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder reports the White House favors Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to run for Governor of Colorado:

In Colorado, the White House was prepared for the retirement of governor Bill Ritter, even though Ritter had managed to keep his intentions a secret from almost everyone. And the White House even has a candidate in mind: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, the former Colorado Senator, and a man who has long aspired to be Colorado’s governor.

UPDATE: 9NEWS’ Adam Schrager reporting Interior Secretary Ken Salazar likely to run, based on statements by his brother Rep. John Salazar.

Since there’s plenty more to come, no doubt.