Why Andrew Romanoff Scares Mike Coffman in One Video

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by: Colorado Pols

Earlier this week, Democrat Andrew Romanoff's campaign for Congress in CD-6 released its first online video to draw attention to what is already the most closely-watched House race in the country. The fact that Romanoff's campaign made a nice online video is not particularly notable in and of itself, nor is Romanoff's message in said video. But when you watch Romanoff's performance and compare it to the first significant TV ad from 2012 Democratic challenger Joe Miklosi, there is a stark difference; Romanoff is exponentially more likable on camera than Miklosi or Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Coffman.

Both Romanoff and Coffman are raising veritable shitloads of money, and third-party expenditures on each side will push total spending in this race near the $20 million mark when all is said and done. Since both candidates should have plenty of resources for TV, mail, and voter outreach, the outcome in a close race will be decided on points such as likability. And that — more than any other issue in this race — is why Coffman and National Republicans are so concerned about Romanoff. Take a look at Romanoff's video below, then compare it to Miklosi's 2012 campaign ad after the jump:

Now, take a look at Joe Miklosi's first major ad from the fall of 2012:

Miklosi comes off as stiff and robotic, which is a considerable difference from the much more smooth and polished Romanoff you see in the first video. If he had been more likable on camera, would Miklosi have been able to bridge the small gap that prevented him from beating Coffman in 2012? That's a tough call to make, even in hindsight, but it certainly would have helped.

With Romanoff, Democrats have a candidate whose affability and personality are a major advantage over the generally dour Coffman. This matters. A lot. Especially when both candidates are going to have all the resources they need to promote their respective candidacies. In races as close as CD-6, even the tiniest advantage can mean the difference; but this is one area where Romanoff is clearly better than Coffman.

15 thoughts on “Why Andrew Romanoff Scares Mike Coffman in One Video”

Davie says:

May 23, 2014 at 12:32 pm
you mean like this exchange yesterday with Elliot and myself?

ElliotFladen says:

Thu May 22, 2014 at 6:12 AM MDT

This IS NOT pointless. Coffman putting "comprehensive" in the position was a clear signal that he was willing to buck the nativists in an attempt to start fresh on issue. Taking it out indicates that such a signal was BS from the beginning.

And honestly, this shouldn't have surprised me. I remember thanking him in person last summer at a GOP barbecue for his recent openness on the issue. Instead of being grateful or even receptive for my remark his facial reaction was that I had put a dead skunk in his hands. I thought until recently I had been reading too much into things….but apparently I was dead on.

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- Davie says:
  
  Thu May 22, 2014 at 10:21 AM MDT
  
  OTOH, if you tried to discuss this with Romanoff, he'd probably give you a big welcoming smile first, and then engage you in a serious conversation regarding immigration issues. He's a good listener.
  
  There is a huge difference between Coffman and Romanoff –in style, intellect, attitudes, and most of all willingness to act.
– See more at: http://coloradopols.com/diary/58313/coffman-disappears-comprehensive-from-immigration-reform#comment-550063
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Andrew Carnegie says:

May 23, 2014 at 1:20 pm

Most closely watched House race in the country?

Seems like a rather inflated view of Romanoff's importance.

Out of 435 seats, there are about 10 that are about toss-ups. This is one of them. Kind of like there are about 10 toss-up Senate seats.

Is the Colorado senate race the most closely watched Senate race in the country?

Both parties have a realistic chance and there are no clear favorites.

That is why they call it a toss-up.

BTW, I like this picture of Coffman better:

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1. Ralphie says:
  
  May 23, 2014 at 1:29 pm
  
  Coffman playing dress-up for his desk job safe in the Green Zone?
  
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  1. horseshit GOP front group says:
    
    May 23, 2014 at 1:53 pm
    
    awww, looks like AC has a man crush on GZ Coffman. That's so sweet.
    
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  2. BlueCat says:
    
    May 23, 2014 at 3:50 pm
    
    Now you sound just like my Republican Marine Reserve neighbor who also spent time over there.
    
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2. OrangeFree says:
  
  May 23, 2014 at 1:58 pm
  
  This is how you know the Coffman camp and his supports are in dire straits – him being a vet is coming up an awful lot recently, more so than I can remember in his past campaigns.
  
  You don't throw around the uniform this much unless you're losing on the issues…
  
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3. Colorado Pols says:
  
  May 23, 2014 at 2:12 pm
  
  Uh, yeah. Where have you been? This race has been #1 for a long time. If it's not #1, everywhere, it's still in the Top 3.
  
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  1. Ralphie says:
    
    May 23, 2014 at 2:19 pm
    
    He's whistling past the graveyard, Pols. Lowering expectations.
    
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    1. Davie says:
      
      May 23, 2014 at 3:00 pm
      
      Yep, after the Nov. vote, it'll be "Well, he was never expected to win, what with all those illegal immigrants voting for Romanoff!"
      
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  2. Andrew Carnegie says:
    
    May 23, 2014 at 2:28 pm
    
    Here are the House Toss-ups per RCP:
    
    Dem seats:
    
    TOSS UP (13)
    
    AZ1: Kirkpatrick (D)
    
    AZ2: Barber (D)
    
    CA36: Ruiz (D)
    
    CA52: Peters (D)
    
    CA7: Bera (D)
    
    FL18: Murphy (D)
    
    FL26: Garcia (D)
    
    IL10: Schneider (D)
    
    ME2: Open (D)
    
    NH1: Shea-Porter (D)
    
    NY1: Bishop (D)
    
    NY21: Open (D)
    
    WV3: Rahall (D)
    
    Republican seats:
    
    TOSS UP (4)
    
    CO6: Coffman (R)
    
    IA3: Open (R)
    
    IL13: Davis (R)
    
    NE2: Terry (R)
    
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  3. Andrew Carnegie says:
    
    May 23, 2014 at 11:17 pm
    
    Pols, It is listed number 4 of 10 to watch here:
    
    http://www.nationaljournal.com/against-the-grain/the-10-most-compelling-house-races-of-2014-20140522
    
    8 of the 10 are Dem incumbents.
    
    So much for taking over the House.
    
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    1. Ralphie says:
      
      May 25, 2014 at 3:29 pm
      
      Whistling past the graveyard again Andy Boy? (Funny how your mom named you after broccoli. She must have known something.)
      
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4. SSG_Dan says:
  
  May 25, 2014 at 3:19 pm
  
  "As a Combat Veteran and a Marine Officer, I'll have the salad."
  
  At some point Rep Coffman is going to have to find a new line to start every statement.
  
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ct says:

May 23, 2014 at 1:55 pm

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Half Glass Full says:

May 23, 2014 at 3:08 pm

Coffman's campaign team is at this very moment working up a copycat response.

Scene 1: Coffman walks onto a suburban lawn and starts hacking at weeds side by side with an Hispanic immigrant …

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