August 12, 2010 01:44 AM UTC

The Bennet Money Problem

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• by: jW

I have about 8 diaries that I’d like to write, but I never have the time. It’s hard enough keeping up with all the commentary on this site, posting thoughts here and there, and holding down one of those “job” things. Honestly, I don’t know how you all do it.

Really, there are just certain subjects on which I’d like the community’s take. One in particular is what I consider Senator Bennet’s upcoming money problem.

In the aftermath of yesterday’s conclusion to an ugly primary season, we’ve already begun to see and hear comments from the Andrew Romanoff supporters that they will never vote for Bennet. Last night, after AR’s concession, I read through the comments on his Facebook post that informed his supporters that he had called Senator Bennet to concede, and many of the commenters shared sentiments that they would never vote for a corrupt corporate fat cat like Bennet – that they’d prefer not to vote at all.

Given time, I’d be very surprised if this predilection remains. Many of the people who supported Romanoff consider themselves the base, and are too politically active to walk away from such an important election year. I believe that most of them, in the end, will pull the lever for Senator Bennet, even if to some degree it pains them to do so.

My concern, however, comes down to money. The message that has been ingrained into the minds of the AR supporters has been very simple: Bennet is rich. Romanoff tried to frame the entire primary election around money – whether it was corporate, personal, or exposing its origins – it all came down to money.

I once wrote in a comment some time ago (before that first negative ad) that Romanoff’s message, although damaging in a primary, couldn’t be used against Bennet in the general by the Republicans. And, for the most part, I still think that is true. Buck’s messaging will be about policy, the Dems’ agenda, and will push the anti-Obama rhetoric down our throats, calling Bennet Obama’s handpicked such and such. He won’t get anywhere by claiming Bennet is in bed with Wall Street because the same can be said about his party. But where Romanoff’s message will hurt Bennet will be within the party. Bennet will need to raise money, possibly a lot more than Buck, to keep the seat. But I fear he will have a hard time doing so because people will assume he already has enough to hold his own.

We all know that the Senate race is the race to watch this season. Bennet v. Buck may be historic for Colorado, especially given the sideshow that the Governor race has become. Money will come flooding in from around the country and the state of Colorado for Ken Buck. He is a Tea Party candidate, but unlike the few other Tea Party nominees, he’s not a complete idiot. He’s made some somewhat ridiculous far-right claims, but he’ll find ways to inch himself back to the middle. And although at times it got rough, the primary against Norton didn’t completely divide the party as many Dems may have hoped. Buck will be a formidable candidate to challenge a vulnerable incumbent, and the national republican party will recognize this. For Buck, raising money will not be a problem.

I very well could be wrong, but it will be interesting to see if Bennet can continue his impressive fundraising, or if we will see it taper off a bit. I think the next 80+ days Colorado will see one of the most expensive and interesting races we’ve ever seen. Hopefully (as a Dem) I am wrong about whether Bennet will be able to raise enough, but if the message Romanoff pushed so hard for those many months stuck, it may do more harm than I originally anticipated.

What say you, polsters?