September 16, 2009 05:38 PM UTC

Romanoff Big Day & Week 1 Predictions & Rumors

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• by: RockyMtnModerate

With Romanoff’s big day at hand and the posts here consisting of rumors and rantings from supporters and detractors alike, I thought I’d dive in with a diary just for that – Rumors & Predictions by the always insightful and ever-connected group here.

I’ll throw out a few questions to jump-start the predictions and some of the rumors and other wild speculation I’ve heard from friends and on here. What say you Polsters? Who wants to predict, prognosticate or share those rumors only the truly connected have heard?

Todays events:

What will attendance be at each event today and what will the crowd look like at each?

I’m going to guess 150 – 200 at the first two with 300-400 in Denver tonight. I’m betting the crowds are filled with many of the usual party activists, caucus goers and if you’ve been to a protest or Mike Miles event you’ll recognize many of the faces who have stars in their eyes as their man takes the stage.

Will Romanoff make any news with his speech?

I’m expecting a well delivered speech that speaks more to his own experience than to actual differences with Bennet. He’s a great speaker and in front of a crowd that adores him so applause will be plenty but other than him running I don’t expect much news to be made.

Now, for the fun part – the never-ending string of rumors & speculation. A few of my snarky and wildly baseless predictions and the rumors I’ve heard:

Yes, he will actually announce despite the little nugget of doubt thrown out by Bennet’s former boss. The Mayor will be everywhere Bennet goes but Ritter will have a shocking number of “scheduling conflicts” that keep Bennet from being seen next to him unless it’s to raise money.

For the first few months Romanoff’s people will try to talk about the “grassroots” and downplay the money as they report less than $300k by end of this month. End of year, he’ll show close to $2 mill and look a lot more serious until Bennet reports 2 or 3 times that.

Speaking of his “people”, Sue Casey & Ramona Martinez will team up to direct Romanoff’s bid and bring labor, minority community leaders and the activists of 15yrs ago together with Martinez grand-daughter Joelle the public face of the campaign. With a cadre of former Mike Miles devotees mixed with Romanoff’s local base, their message will be “he’s the people’s choice.” This will all seem like a good idea to the guy who has never had a contested race until he realizes that 3 months into it he has no more supporters than he did the day he announced. A Polis style campaign shake up could follow.

Romanoff volunteers will outnumber Bennet’s 3:1. Bennet will outraise and outspend Romanoff 5:1.

Romanoff & Bennet’s people will battle through whisper campaigns, underhanded rumor mongering and posts on here under pseudonyms, arguing about who is more centrist, who is the real outsider and who is a “viable” candidate against the GOP. Among the chattering class, Romanoff and Bennet’s people will blame each other for the failure of 59 and point to it as proof the other can’t run a statewide campaign against the GOP.

Officially, neither candidate will attack the other and each will try to talk about what they have done for the people of Colorado. As time passes, Romanoff surrogates will begin attacking Bennet for not being “progressive.” Bennet surrogates will fret over the “damage to the party” done by a primary.

Ultimately, it will be a campaign of personality and money over substance or any real differences on the issues.

Early polling? Haven’t a clue!

Final prediction:

Wade Norris will never make sense or rely on facts to back his rantings.