Bennet #8 On "Fix" Senate Line

11 thoughts on “Bennet #8 On “Fix” Senate Line”

1.  

   Republicans still believe he is among the most vulnerable of incumbents, however, due to the fact that he remains a virtually unknown commodity in the state. As evidence of Bennet’s weakness, Republicans point to a new Public Policy Polling survey that shows 41 percent of Colorado voters disapprove of the job he is doing while 34 percent approve.

   Which is it?
   
   Is he “unknown” or does he have 75% name recognition, 41% disapproval + 34% approval?

   Udall beat Schaefer.

   Perhaps Bennet  is a weaker candidate than Udall. Let’s assume a little weaker.
   
   Perhaps the R’s have a better candidate than Schaefer.  Let’s assume a little better- though I don’t see who.

   I still am not convinced this seat is in play.  Perhaps the real R candidate has not yet emerged.

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   1. What’s your point?  Every election cycle is different.  2006 and 2008 were bad for Republicans.  That doesn’t mean 2010 will be.  In fact, a good argument can be made that Democrats’ unbridled far-left agenda will make it easier for a Republican to win.

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      1. I doubt Bennet will go to far left, but his voting record will tell Colorado what he really values. Will it be the people of Colorado he values or the spreading of their wealth?

         His business approach is to repeatedly kiss corporate ass, french kiss it if possible. Did you know he worked for a Colorado tycoon? If you didn’t, go with a corporate type to meet him and he’ll tell you many times during your meeting that he is a corporate dude, runs with tycoons and has made billions.

         One thing he can’t afford is to come out for in anyway is EFCA – stripping the secret vote, more one sided fining or enhanced union boss arbitration benefits. Unfortunately for the Senator are Ms. Pelosi’s effort to run around cloture. This could force his hand on EFCA.

         The story that isn’t out is his work or lack thereof at DPS. He and the CEA have a living legacy, a 50% minority dropout rate, but only 30% if you include whites.

         Once the GOP closes in on a candidate, we’ll have a better idea of candidate contrast. Many Pubs could beat him, if the generic is even and he has votes that people feel …. you know ‘feel’, like more taxes and subsidies.

         Oh, I almost forgot. Any word from Republican 36 on the mysterious Gubernatorial polling?

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2. Their incumbent in KY is now vulnerable, Spector could be primaried out of the race in now very blue Pennsylvania. FL, MO, OH and NH are all Republican open seats that now have to be defended in basically swing states.

   Yea, Bennet is a vulnerable incumbent in the traditional measures of name recognition etc, but the national map of 2010 is strongly in his favor. Without a viable challenger, the RSCC will probably take a pass on Colorado. On a state level, Republicans smell blood in the govenor’s race and won’t waste their money trying to keep the Dems from getting the magic 60 in the U.S. Senate.    

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   1. An appointed candidate is (almost) as good as an open seat.

      Anyone who thinks the CO Senate race will be uncontested, or half-heartedly contested, is deluding themselves.

      Please note: my opinion has nothing to do with the viability of any candidate.  It simply has to do with the political reality that an appointed candidate isn’t much better than a vacancy.  If you’re gonna beat the guy, your best shot is now.

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      1. also because the Republicans are going to be fighting tooth and nail to move the democrats even one seat further from 60 in the senate. They need to be targeting some races to be providing a cushion in case things go wrong in other races.

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3. Maybe some now-unknown R can giddy up some miraculous, meteoric rise between now and late spring 2010, but I doubt it.  Maybe the Dems can somehow shoot themselves in the foot nationally and in CO between now and then so badly that it puts this seat in play, but I doubt it.  The momentum of this seat is pretty obviously with Bennet, and he’s got plenty of time to get his name recognition up.

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4. And looking at the raw facts of an unknown appointee in a purple state makes it look like a decent chance.

   But… diving into the specifics it looks like a hard climb for the GOP. With that said, if they get a good candidate who is somewhat moderate, a strong campaigner, and people get upset with the Dems over the economy, could happen.

   What’s interesting about Ryan Frazier is he sounds a lot like Bill Ritter right now – second tier, may get it by default because no one bigger sees a chance, and is more moderate than the party base.

   The smart thing for us Dems is to remain worried and prepare to fight like hell for the seat.

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5. Only a third of U.S. Senate seats are up every two years.  The notion that a fifth of Senate seats could be more likely to turn over, despite the fact that Bennett is a new appointee building his political base from scratch in a state that went from R to conservative D for this seat just four years ago, is amazing.

    

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6. do not underestimate the GOP, ryan fraizer will be a viable candidate in 2010. bennet has the backing of the democratic machine. the key is will the voters of colorado be patience with the democratics if the economy is still a mess and people are still losing their homes, families and jobs. if the scenario is such, in regards, to the economy, it could favor the republicans in 2010, in the Senate race, for the great State of Colorado.

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