President (To Win Colorado) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Biden*

(R) Donald Trump

80%

20%↓

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

90%

CO-02 (Boulder-ish) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse*

90%

CO-03 (West & Southern CO) See Full Big Line

(D) Adam Frisch

(R) Jeff Hurd

(R) Ron Hanks

40%

30%

20%

CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado) See Full Big Line

(R) Lauren Boebert

(R) J. Sonnenberg

(R) Ted Harvey

20%↑

15%↑

10%

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Dave Williams

(R) Jeff Crank

(R) Doug Bruce

20%

20%

20%

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

90%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) Brittany Pettersen

85%↑

 

CO-08 (Northern Colo.) See Full Big Line

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(R) Gabe Evans

(R) Janak Joshi

60%↑

40%↑

20%↑

State Senate Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

80%

20%

State House Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

95%

5%

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
August 12, 2010 01:44 AM UTC

The Bennet Money Problem

  • 7 Comments
  • 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?

Comments

7 thoughts on “The Bennet Money Problem

  1. I think in the end what will do Obennet in is being supported by Obama. He can run all he wants, but using Obama in the primary has irrevocably tied him to the man.

    1. If nothing else, Bennet’s victory proved that Obama is in no way a liability to Colorado candidates, and is most likely still a major benefit.  Romanoff didn’t dominate anywhere in Colorado, instead he lost handily in a number of areas, especially in the very conservative counties.  This points to both Bennet’s strength as a centrist candidate as well as the fact that the Obama tag isn’t the poison pill that so many chuckleheads supposed.

      Perhaps most importantly, tt also substantiated the belief that the campaign model utilized by Obama in 2008 is still in play and should be fruitful in 2010.  GOTV efforts targeting women, latinos, first time voters and small businesses still work and Democrat messages resonate with those audiences.  

      In terms of the diary, I don’t forsee any problems for Bennet in fundraising.  If he falls below a 3:1 cash on hand advantage I will be shocked.  Beyond the fact that Bennet is an amazing fundraiser in his own right, there is no way that this race doesn’t remain a priority to the party.

      I do expect the GOP to put all their chips on Buck.  He is the best Senate candidate they have had in quite some time (that is including Allard) and I think that he will have some appeal to U’s.

  2. That’s a good start for the fall, and there is certainly the possibility of another Obama visit.  Presidents may not have a lot of spillover popularity — but they can sure as hell raise bucks.  The guy with the cash problem is Buck == yes, he’ll have right-wing psycho groups trashing Bennet, as they did Norton.  But I can’t see the business community opening up to him.  Tea Party is anathema to business.

  3. I hope this is one of those races that is decided by late September. I hope Bennet continues to thrive as a fundraiser. But polls will probably show Buck and Bennet even; they may even show Buck with a lead. If he ends up on the national party radar, he may be able to garner support from both the Tea Party and establishment, not to mention the 527s campaigning on his behalf.

    My other concern with Bennet is in regards to how effective his spending will be. I still haven’t heard a good explanation as to why he loaned himself $300K in the waining days of the primary, but if it turns out that he ran out of the $4+ million available to him, the opposition will recognize that as a weakness.  

  4. of Senator Bennet having trouble fundraising.  He’s outraised all the other candidates in the race and now can look forward to help from the DSCC and he’ll redouble his efforts with individuals.  

    As Voyageur correctly points out, Buck will continue to have a hard time raising money and it seems likely that he will have to continue to rely on out of state 527 ads (which will run on both sides, diluting their effectiveness).  While his primary victory is likely to give him a short-term boost in fundraising, Buck so far has proven to be mediocre at best.

Leave a Comment

Recent Comments


Posts about

Donald Trump
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Lauren Boebert
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Yadira Caraveo
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado House
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado Senate
SEE MORE

229 readers online now

Newsletter

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop with regular updates!