September 21, 2012 10:30 PM UTC

Hancock as Huddles: It's the Narrative that Matters

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• by: Colorado Pols

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has never been one to conceal the personal narrative driving his political ambitions. He relied heavily on that narrative during his mayoral bid last year, seamlessly weaving his decades of history growing up in Denver into his plan for Denver’s future. Indeed, Hancock’s compelling personal story humanized the candidate — something Chris Romer, the privileged son of a governor, always struggled with — and likely cemented his win during the run-off election.

That story became even more compelling this week, with ESPN’s revelation that Denver’s mayor once served in an arguably higher-profile role: as Huddles, the mascot of the Denver Broncos.

From Michael Roberts at Westword:

During ESPN’s pre-game build-up to last night’s error-filled Broncos loss to the Falcons, past Westword profile subject Rick Reilly hosted a segment featuring Denver mayor Michael Hancock talking in greater detail than he has since being elected (and maybe ever) about what’s arguably his greatest accomplishment:

Serving as Huddles, the Broncos’ mascot.

The bit opens with Reilly on the 16th Street Mall, where he corrals passersby and asks if they recognize Huddles, a long-abandoned mascot far less tough and virile than the current model, Miles. No one does, beyond figuring out that he boosted the Broncos.

Reilly’s also got a photo of Hancock dating back to his old Denver City Council days. When he reveals that the pics of the mayor and the mascot feature the same person, the folks with whom he’s chatting are shocked, and no wonder: While Hancock hasn’t hidden his Huddles past, neither does he make a big deal of it…as he absolutely should!

Then comes the background. Hancock was part of a Broncos youth group in 1986, when he was seventeen…and he was subsequently cajoled into portraying Huddles. As he told Reilly during a sit-down in the mayor’s office, the job’s pay ($25 a pop) was more attractive than the potential dangers (Hancock says Huddles had been smacked with snowballs and set on fire).

Michael Hancock will never be John Hickenlooper, but that’s a good thing. After all, Hancock is able to play the whole “hometown mayor” angle in a way that Hickenlooper never could. If Hick was reluctantly mayor, Hancock’s the guy fulfilling a childhood dream.

The ESPN story is the first major piece of national press Hancock has received since his advisors made boosting his political profile a priority over a year ago. As it turns out, letting Hancock earn organic attention by just being himself is probably the most effective strategy possible.

Effective, that is, as long as there’s an advisor alongside to make sure Hancock doesn’t go too far off message.