May 19, 2012 03:15 AM UTC

Joe Coors Inches Up NRCC "Young Guns" Ladder

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• by: Colorado Pols

CD-7 Republican Candidate Joe Coors is one step closer to being inducted into the National Republican Congressional Committee’s high-profile “Young Guns” program, signaling growing Republican attention to Ed Perlmutter’s Jefferson County seat.

From the NRCC:

Washington — The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) today announced its fourth round of ‘Contender’ candidates. By reaching the third step of the four-step ‘Young Guns’ program, these Republican candidates have reached the fundamental benchmarks to place them on the road to victory. Now, these eight candidates are ready to take on the Democrat establishment and return fiscal sanity to Washington.

“These candidates have worked hard to meet the benchmarks that have been laid out before them and are determined to hold Washington Democrats accountable this November,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX). “Hard-working taxpayers are tired of watching the Democrats in Washington spend this country deeper into recession while they have been forced to tighten their belts. With Americans desperate for change, these eight candidates are determined to rein in reckless spending, cut taxes and return the economy back to a state of vitality.”

Originally founded in the 2007-2008 election cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Paul Ryan (R-WI) as a member-driven organization, the Young Guns program has become an official NRCC effort dedicated to electing open-seat and challenger candidates nationwide. Reps. Cantor, McCarthy and Ryan remain actively involved in the Young Guns program, working together to recruit and prime conservative leaders for victory.

After reaching the third step of the four-step program, these ‘Contender’ candidates now face a new set of rigorous benchmarks that will continue to help them build competitive, effective and winning campaigns.

The NRCC’s ‘Contender’ Candidates Are:

• Kim Vann (CA-03)

• John Tavaglione (CA-41)

• Joe Coors (CO-07)

• Ben Lange (IA-01)

• John Archer (IA-02)

• Dan Dolan (IA-02)

• David Rouzer (NC-07)

• Maggie Brooks (NY-25)

Coors is the most legitimate candidate Perlmutter has faced in years, although the Republican faces an uphill battle to take down the hard-working and widely respected (and recognized) incumbent.

Coors, of course, is only legitimate enough to be recognized by the NRCC and other outside groups by virtue of his last name and personal wealth. His ability to self-fund means that Perlmutter will consistently have to play catch-up, but the congressman has never had any trouble raising significant sums and he’s certainly insulated, unlike Coors, from the criticism that he’s buying his way into Congress.

We wonder whether Coors really fits the “Young Gun” profile, anyway. If an incredibly wealthy, grey-haired, ex-business executive is considered charismatic, ambitious, and rambunctious enough to be considered a “Young Gun,” it’s probably time to rename the program. Coors is more old hat than he is young anything.

We wonder how young you have to be to be a “Young Gun.” If Coors moves past the “Contender” stage, apparently 70 is young enough.