December 04, 2011 07:05 PM UTC

Open Letter to Andrew Romanoff

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• by: Dan Willis

I have considered Andrew Romanoff a friend longer than most people in Colorado even heard of him. But I cannot support him if chooses to run for CD6.

Joe Miklosi has been out there getting the endorsements, the local support, and the national attention needed to defeat Coffman. When he entered the race it was to win, regardless of whatever map the court handed him.

As for money, the big bucks have been holding back to see if this district becomes winnable via redistricting. After that question is answered in the affirmative next week, Joe will have a strong money train flowing into his campaign.

If the current version of CD6’s map holds, Coffman still has a small advantage in terms of registration and voter performance, but Joe has been working to systematically negate that advantage by positioning himself as the more mainstream candidate willing to take on an increasingly-right-leaning incumbent. The new district may have a few more Rs than Ds in it but I think Joe is well on  his way to capturing the “mushy middle” which is where the election will be won.

If Andrew, or anyone else, enters this race, that momentum will be lost by having to focus on winning a primary. Should Andrew pull out a primary win, there will be too many sour grapes for him to be able to pull together a win in November. If Joe wins the primary, he would likely have trouble regaining that momentum needed to win in an R-leaning district.

Andrew. I love to pieces, but I hate what Coffamn and the GOP are doing to this country far more.

Andrew Romanoff, please do not enter this race.