August 29, 2012 12:57 AM UTC

Ludwig Whistlestop Tour Stopping in Jeffco on Saturday

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• by: Colorado Pols

CU Regent At-Large Stephen Ludwig will be visiting Jeffco on Saturday, stopping in Lakewood as part of a whistlestop tour of all 64 of Colorado’s counties. Ludwig is running for a second term as regent, and holds the rare distinction of being the only state-level Democrat on the ballot across Colorado.

From the Jefferson County Democratic Party:

Media Advisory

CU Regent Stephen Ludwig to Stop in Jeffco on 64 County Tour

What:

As Regent Ludwig visits all 64 of Colorado’s counties, he will be visiting Jefferson County on Saturday for a “street corner rally.” Supporters from Jeffco will be joining him to wave signs and show their enthusiasm for his reelection bid.

When:

Saturday, September 1st, 2012, 8:45-9:15am

Where:

Corner of Wadsworth and Alameda, Lakewood, CO

(Near the New Belmar Sign)

It’s unlikely that Ludwig will be giving any sort of speech, considering he’ll be constrained to a street corner and will be in Lakewood for a mere 30 minutes. Instead, this is something of a glorified honk and wave, with Ludwig and other Democrats trying to churn up as much attention during rush hour as possible.

Which inevitably leads to the question, “How many votes can anybody, let alone a little-known statewide candidate, win by waving signs and shouting at cars?” The answer is simple: very few, if any. This event isn’t really to attract the direct attention of voters, however. Instead, it’s a ploy to garner Ludwig some much needed press clippings and photos in local newspapers.

Ludwig is locked in a race against his 2006 opponent, Republican Brian Davidson. In their last go-around, Ludwig took the seat by less than one half of one percentage point. In 2012, then, with the spectre of the presidential race sure to impact turnout for both candidates, Ludwig needs voters to remember his name. With a shoestring budget, Ludwig won’t be able to afford much paid media  to raise his diminutive political profile.

The regent, then, needs to garner as much earned media as possible. An article and accompanying photo in the Lakewood Sentinel won’t earn Ludwig too much attention, but any press will remind voters that there’s a regent race that may be worth a google search, at the very least.

And, if they make it that far, why not vote for the incumbent?