March 08, 2011 12:48 AM UTC

Democrats' #1 2012 Target: Scott Tipton

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• by: Colorado Pols

We learned new information today about upcoming strategy from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in 2012. According to reliable sources, the DCCC has completed their initial round of analysis of congressional battlegrounds next year, and has the beginnings of their strategy to retake the House of Representatives in 2012.

The DCCC’s principal target in Colorado in 2012 will be freshman Rep. Scott Tipton.

From what we understand, Tipton is considered to be one of the top 2012 Democratic congressional targets in the entire nation; citing his perceived intellectual weakness, solid potential candidates including Colorado House Minority Leader Sal Pace, and a likelihood that CD-3 will survive the redistricting process relatively competitive and intact.

Early identification of Tipton as a likely soft target should not, we’ve been cautioned, be taken as a sign that Colorado’s other freshman Rep. Cory Gardner will get off easy. What this means is that Tipton has been recognized as an unusually good opportunity to take a seat right back from the “2010 wave,” and Democrats need all of those they can get.

If nothing else, 2012 is where we’ll learn if Tipton had anything to do with his own victory.