According to media reports, Obama reiterated that Social Security would not be privatized while he was president. Hopefully, that will only mean another two and one half years. He suggested that the struggling federal entitlement program only needed some minor “adjustments” to make it solvent, which is blatantly inaccurate and he knows it.
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Holy cow. Just when Ken Buck thought that everything was going his way (what with the dirty Washington, D.C. money pouring in to Colorado on his behalf and all), he got a little too comfortable and let this one slip at a recent event:
Yes. He did say that. He did say that the reason Colorado voters should support him is because he "...doesn't wear high heels."
Good luck defending that one, big boy.
The biggest news from today's GOP Assembly was the failure of the McInnis campaign to capture top line on the primary ballot. While McInnis will still be heavily favored going into the August primary, the strong Maes showing combined with Joe Gschwendtner petitioning onto the ballot could cause headaches and a chaotic three-way race.
The second biggest piece of news was the fact that J.J. Ament not only secured top line but held rival Ali Hasan off of the ballot by a comfortable margin. Ament goes on to face Walker Stapleton in the August primary.
In noteworthy, but unsurprising, news Ken Buck won a vast majority of the votes and held all minor candidates off of the ballot. There had been speculation beforehand that delegates supporting Jane Norton or Tom Wiens would try to blunt Buck's victory by casting their vote for Cleve Tidwell or Steve Barton instead of Buck, but Buck's 77% victory indicates this probably did not happen.
Results
Ken Buck: 77%
Cleve Tidwell: 15%
Dan Maes: 49.35%
Scott McInnis: 48.89%
J.J. Ament: 79%
Ali Hasan: 19%
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Q4 2009 Fundraising Totals (Incumbent in Bold)
Michael Bennet - 1,149,091
Tom Wiens - 725,000
Jane Norton - 550,605
Ken Buck - 39,850
John Salazar - 187,160
Scott Tipton - 109,981
Bob McConnell - 12,471
Betsy Markey - 227,442
Cory Gardner - 197,553
Diggs Brown - 61,174
Tom Lucero - 25,824
Ryan Frazier - 218,824
Ed Perlmutter - 215,201
Lang Sias - 30,931
U.S. Senate
Michael Bennet's fundraising continues at a monumental pace and it is starting to look as if he will have a massive advantage no matter who the Republican nominee may be. Jane Norton once again posted strong numbers, though many observers found it troublesome she did not improve much over the last quarter's take.
Though the Wiens campaign is declining to say how much of the $725,000 they are claiming to have brought in came from the candidate himself, it appears safe to assume that Wiens followed through on his previous statement that he would be investing $500,000 of his money into his campaign. Regardless of where the money came from, this means Wiens now has a very well-financed primary campaign.
Ken Buck had an extremely disappointing quarter. The sole consolation here is the massive ad buy by the Campaign for Liberty that can free up some money that may have been allocated by the Buck campaign for media and divert it into organizational costs.
CD-3
Scott Tipton had a strong showing for his first month in the race. If he is able to keep up the pace he should be able to place the seat into play.
CD-4
Cory Gardner had another strong fundraising quarter. Despite being outraised by Makey, CD-4's Republican voter registration advantage means that Makey would have to be raising even more than she is to make it up. Gardner is strongly positioning himself as the leading candidate in both the primary and general elections.
At $61,174, Diggs Brown has enough money to mount a primary challenge, even if it is a long-shot. He will at least be able to afford a working campaign organization, which is more than what most other underdog candidates in these Republican primaries can say.
Tom Lucero again had a lackluster quarter, but even more damaging to his prospects than his low fundraising haul is his astounding 200% burn rate. When a campaign spends twice what they raised in a given quarter, it is a sure sign it is on it's last legs.
CD-7
Ryan Frazier had a strong fundraising quarter and stands as the only Colorado Republican challenger for federal office to outraise the Democratic incumbent. While a narrow victory, Frazier's take places what was expected to be a safe Democratic seat into play.
Ex-Democrat and Mark Udall supporter Lang Sias, despite starting fundraising at the beginning of November and having most of the quarter to fundraise, came in with a dismal $30,931. Nearly half of his money came from Washington DC, as opposed to Frazier who blew him out of the water and raised funds mostly from in-state, and $5,000 of that came from John McCain's PAC. While Sias gave the illusion of being a strong candidate with his McCain backing and much-touted Washington connections, after raising only $30,391 it is hard to see how he is even remotely serious. Sias' funding problems will become even more severe as he is rumored to be planning to bypass the grassroots by running a costly petition campaign in the coming months.
Ken Buck, Ali Hasan, and Tom Lucero are an unlikely trio of underdog candidates that have the distinction of being among the first candidates for office to feature in campaign commercials.
"Campaign for Liberty" Spending $350,000 On Buck
An ad run on behalf of Senate candidate Ken Buck is the most important of the three developments. A group calling itself the "Campaign for Liberty" (this is not necessarily Ron Paul's group, C4L is a 501c4 and is barred from running candidate ads) has purchased $350,000 of ad time focusing on Ken Buck's candidacy. These ads reportedly began running during local news programs earlier this evening and we are seeking a copy of the commercial to upload as soon as we can.
While Buck's fundraising has faltered in the last quarter and Jane Norton (who was not without fundraising issues of her own) has a modest lead after Q4 2009, Buck is poised to have a great deal of cash spent on his behalf by outside groups. In addition to national groups such as the Senate Conservatives Fund eyeing the race, certain interests based in Northern Colorado are preparing their own outside efforts on Buck's behalf.
Hasan Goes On Radio
Treasurer candidate Ali Hasan began running radio ads today. Denver-metro area listeners can hear them on 850 KOA.
Lucero's Gambit
CD-4 candidate Tom Lucero has invested what is left of his campaign funds on a TV ad buy in which he looks very surprised by the camera.
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Immediately after the special elections earlier this month, a nationwide conference call of conservative activists across the country was held. The call was put on by RedState.com founder Erick Erickson and Sen. Jim DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund. Thousands of activists participated and the main agenda was getting feedback on which U.S. Senate primaries the group and allied groups should be looking at. The Colorado race was near the top of the list.
It appears that something might actually be coming out of that conference call. Today, the Ken Buck for U.S. Senate campaign is reporting that the Senate Conservatives Fund is looking for feedback from Colorado residents and is encouraging Coloradoans to send messages of support to the group. This would seem to indicate that the Senate Conservatives Fund is edging close to direct intervention in the Colorado senate primary or is at least close to deciding whether to endorse Buck or Tom Wiens.
If the Senate Conservatives Fund becomes involved on behalf of Tom Wiens or Ken Buck, you can bet that other organizations such as the Club for Growth will follow suit. These are the same groups that are boosting Marco Rubio's campaign in Florida and could wipe out Jane Norton's fundraising advantage if they choose.
UPDATE: The Wiens campaign is now urging supporters to contact the Senate Conservatives Fund as well.
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Castle Rock, CO
From the screenplay of The Untouchables starring Kevin Costner and Sean Connery:
Charles Martin Smith - l've found a financial disbursement pattern which shows some irregu...
Sean Connery - You carry a badge?
Charles Martin Smith - Yes.
Sean Connery - Carry a gun
Sean Connery - Well, here we are.
Kevin Costner - What are we doing here? (seeing it's the Chicago Post Office)
Sean Connery - Liquor raid.
Kevin Costner - Here?!
Sean Connery - Everybody knows where the booze is. The problem isn't finding it. The problem is who wants to cross Capone. Let's go.
Kevin Costner - You'd better be damn sure, Malone.
Sean Connery - If you walk through this door, you're walking into a world of trouble. There's no turning back. Do you understand?
Kevin Costner - Yes, l do.
Sean Connery - Good. Give me that axe. - Federal officers! - Get your hands in the air! - Nobody moves! - This is a raid!
The Douglas County Republicans are a necessary stop for any aspiring GOP candidate. Candidates for Governor, Senator, Congressman and State Legislature come by for the breakfast meetings. Last week’s meeting hosted U.S. Senate Candidate Ken Buck. He was asked questions and eventually identity theft issues came up.
On October 17, 2008 Operation Number Games kicked off. The raid was the brainchild of the District Attorney for Colorado's 19th Judicial District, one Kenneth R. Buck. Ten Law Enforcement Officers raided Amalia's Translation and Tax Service ("Amalia's") in Greeley, Colorado. They seized computers and boxes of paper records. After copying the records, Operation Number Games found 1,338 of Amalia's Clients were using forged social security and idenfication records of other Americans. This was identity theft and felony criminal impersonation as only organized crime can do it.
Just as Kevin Costner made the decision to walk into a world of trouble in enforcing the law, Ken Buck got his share of trouble. This time it wasn't Al Capone but the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado. The ACLU retained six lawyers and filed a massive lawsuit against Ken Buck and Weld County Sheriff John Cooke. Some highlights of the ACLU's allegations are:
So how does a person who is not a CPA or licensed tax professional get so many tax customers? Tax Service owner Amalia Cerrillo has filed thousands of tax returns for Mexican migrants since the Greeley meat packers began their recruiting of workers from Mexico. A few years back the INS did a massive raid on the Swift meatpacking plant and carted off illegal immigrants by the dozens. The other meatpackers were largely untouched.
So far, even with six attorneys, the court case hasn't gone as the ACLU has wanted it. They have now appealed the case to the Colorado Supreme Court and the case goes on and on, with D.A. Buck and Sheriff Cooke still defending the right to enforce our laws.
Now Ken Buck has tossed his hat into the U.S. Senate race and is making the rounds.
If selected as the GOP nominee, he will likely run against the foppish appointed senator, Michael Bennet. Bennet, is "to the manor born", having inherited untold millions. To hear him speak is to hear the old style upper class East Coast speech pattern we usually only hear in movies like Trading Places.
Let's look at these two guys.
Take your choice. Elliott Ness or Louis Winthorpe III
Ken Buck reports in. The Greeley Tribune reports:
The Ken Buck for Colorado campaign raised $158,665 in the third quarter, which ended Sept. 30, according to numbers the campaign released to the Federal Election Commission on Thursday.
“We still have a long way to go, but I am very pleased that Coloradans have invested almost $500,000 so far in our campaign. It is especially gratifying that 88 percent of the total we raised came from grassroots Colorado,” said Weld District Attorney Buck in a prepared release.
It's official:
Aurora, CO - October 15, 2009 - In an address to his supporters today at a family-owned business in Adams County, Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier officially announced his candidacy for the Unites States House of Representatives in Colorado’s 7th Congressional District.
Frazier’s message is one of a new way forward with solutions grounded in the principles of fiscal responsibility and limited federal government. Frazier cites his desire to build a better, more prosperous future for the people of Colorado as his motivation for running for Congress. He sees the struggling economy, the need for a comprehensive policy that will lead to energy independence, and the fiscally irresponsible policies of the current Congress as the problems most affecting the people of Colorado."I stepped forward in this election because I feel so strongly about the opportunity we have as a country to be better, safer, and economically stronger. We owe our children that much. The dangerous course that the Democrat-controlled Congress has forced us to tread, greatly concerns me. There is too much at stake: people's livelihoods and our children's future. It’s time to re-energize the people's House with new leadership and better solutions. The 7th Congressional District represents the right path, right now to do my part in helping make America better. The people here deserve a better choice,” Frazier stated.
The clearest loser in this move is Ed Perlmutter. Perlmutter has had an easy time in both of his campaign thus far; winning in 2006 in one of the worst years for Republicans while Beauprez was busy tanking at the top of the ticket, and in 2008 against a Republican so low-profile that his campaign was using "John Who? Joh LeRew!" as a campaign slogan. Perlmutter hasn't had a difficult fight yet and Frazier can provide that.
The Senate primary now becomes a two-way race and Frazier's departure will benefit Ken Buck in one key area. Part of the problem that Buck and Frazier had raising money against Norton was that national conservative groups were not sure who to support between the two of them. Now that Buck is the clear alternative to Norton, organizations such as the Club for Growth are now much more likely to intervene and breathe life into Buck's campaign.
Ken Buck recently answered our questions about the campaign and the issues. Here's his responses.
1) Why do you think you can win this race and how?
The political environment in Colorado is changing, people are becoming more and more dissatisfied with the expansion of government in their lives and Republicans are starting to regain their brand. This leads me to believe that by the time 2010 rolls around that Colorado may be in a position to turn red once again, but it will take more then that to retake this Senate seat. It takes a strong personal commitment for anybody to run for office, much less a state wide office such as this. I have the passion to get the job done on the campaign trail and am the only candidate in this race, Republican or Democrat, to travel to all 64 counties. When I traveled across the state visiting these counties one thing became apparent to me and that is campaigns in large part have forgotten about the grassroots activists who make this party run in the first place! I will do whatever it takes to integrate the grassroots activists into my campaign and utilize them to their full effect.
I plan on communicating my message to the people in as many ways as possible. Traditional modes of communication such as television, radio and mail will all be utilized, but newer forms of communication such as social networking, blogging, twittering, text messaging and emails will also be used. Republicans have been behind the curve for years now when it comes to these types of communication and if we do not correct our mistakes we should prepare for more losses. Not only are these newer forms of communications proving to be just as effective at relaying a message as older forms of communication but they can be used at a fraction of the cost.
2) Do you plan to get on the ballot via assembly or petition?
Assembly.
3) How are you going to deliver your message to the entire state?
Colorado’s next senator must work to earn the confidence of the state’s voters. From the start of this campaign, I have made it my number one priority to reach out to the people of Colorado. Currently, I am the only candidate in the race for U.S. Senate to have visited all 64 counties in Colorado, and I will continue to personally reach out to as many voters as possible.
4) Do you have any fundraising goals set yet?
We hope to raise as much money as possible, in order to wage a successful campaign against Sen. Michael Bennet, and the special interests in Washington who are supporting his campaign.
5) How are you different from the other candidates?
As district attorney, I understand the value of government and the roll that it can play in protecting the lives and rights of the American people. Because of this understanding, I have been able to successfully curb the number of gangs in Weld County, and fought for measures to protect the people and families of my district. In fact, since being elected district attorney, crime in Weld County has decreased greatly. I worked with law enforcement and community leaders to fight for programs that work while staying well within my budget, such as programs to keep kids in school, rather than turning to the streets, and cutting gang activity in my district.
Being district attorney has also allowed me to stand up for the people of Weld County from a sometimes overbearing government. As senator, I will continue my fight to ensure that the federal government does not overstep its bounds.
6) Why are you qualified to serve as our Senator?
As a prosecutor, I have dedicated 100% of my efforts to following the law and protecting the people of the United States. As district attorney, I am required to make the tough choices necessary to protect the people of Weld County, regardless of the political consequences.
As senator, I will serve the people of Colorado with this same dedication.
7) What is your plan to get us out of this economic recession?
Driving the United States further into debt is not the way to get out of the current economic recession. In fact, this merely extends our country’s economic problems to our children and grandchildren. Instead of voting on spending package after spending package, I will work on creating jobs through the private sector. Small business has historically been the driving force in our economy, and that continues to this day. In order to create more jobs, we must have policies in place to help America’s small businesses and families, such as tax reform, and providing for responsible, market-based health care reform—not reform imposed on the back of our small businesses and the American people.
8) What is your biggest concern of the Obama administration?
My primary concern with President Obama is that regardless of the problem his answer is to increase spending, and to give the federal government more control over businesses, schools and our lives. The United States has several serious challenges that it must deal with, including a weakened economy, growing jobless numbers, a record high deficit, problems in our educational system and skyrocketing healthcare. Democrats and Republicans agree what the problems are, but we do not agree on how best to deal with them. As a U.S. Senator, I will work to limit the role of government in our country’s businesses, schools, doctors’ offices and our personal lives.
9) Why Senate and not Governor?
There is nothing I would like to do more than represent the people of Colorado as we work to tackle our country’s many challenges, such as creating jobs, and defending our nation.
10) How strong do you think the GOP is right now?
The Republican Party is weak because we have recently lost our way. While in control of Congress, Republicans voted for deficit spending, expanding the federal government, and were more concerned about being reelected than doing what was right for their constituents and the country. Thankfully, Republicans are running back to our core values of fiscal responsibility and limited government. Having a leader who has never strayed from these principals is vital to get the GOP on the right track. As senator, I will continue my record of supporting limited government, lower taxes and having a fiscally sound government.
11) If there is just one thing you could accomplish or pass in the Senate, what would it be?
As senator, my first priority will be to fight for a balanced budget and curb wasteful spending.
12) What do you think the biggest issue facing the next generation is and what would you do about it in the Senate?
The biggest issue facing the next generation of Americans is the massive federal deficit and its effect on the economy. As a U.S. Senator, I will work for policies that will create jobs and fix our economy. These policies include balancing the budget, harnessing America’s sources of energy, creating a pro-business and pro-growth tax measures, and providing for meaningful healthcare reform that leaves our medical decisions to the American people and their doctors—not the U.S. Congress.
13) Anything else you would like to add?
My wife Perry and I have had a great time travelling Colorado’s 64 counties, and meeting the people who make this state great. As we continue our campaign for the U.S. Senate, we look forward to continue meeting as many Coloradans as possible and hearing about how they want their government to work for them.
Now what do you guys thinks about Ken?
The results are in from the Keystone straw poll. Considering that Scott McInnis opted to skip the event and instead coordinate with a 501c4 committee to release a primary poll while opening himself up to claims of ethics violations, it should come as no surprise that Josh Penry posted strong numbers.
Josh Penry: 79%
Scott McInnis: 11%
The race for U.S. Senate saw DC-favored candidate Jane Norton pull out a razor-thin victory. Fully two-thirds of those present were opposed to a Norton candidacy. Despite monumental efforts by the Norton campaign to drive supporters to the event and the widespread assumption that the central committee members present would overwhelmingly favor her candidacy, she instead received a muted response and ended up essentially in a three-way gridlock with Frazier and Buck.
Jane Norton: 34%
Ryan Frazier: 27%
Ken Buck: 27%
Following up on the Washington Post's recent article predicting doom for Colorado Democrats, Rasmussen Reports follows up with polls on the Governor and Senate races showing bad news for Michael Bennet and Bill Ritter.
Scott McInnis: 44%
Bill Ritter: 39%Bill Ritter: 41%
Josh Penry: 40%
Ryan Frazier: 40%
Michael Bennet: 39%Michael Bennet: 43%
Ken Buck: 37%
Of course, the NRSC is poised to piss away any gains in the Senate race by forcing through a divisive candidate as their annointed candidate and fracturing the party in the process. But, hey, us dumb hicks out here in flyover country can't be trusted to pick our own representation.
On another note, this is RMR's 1000th post so pop out the champagne and have a toast to the conservative blogosphere. Or not.
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Renowned reporter/blogger Chris Cillizza spends time this morning writing about Senator Josh Penry and his campaign to be the next Governor of Colorado. In his "The Rising" series, Cillizza has spent time exploring the new faces of the GOP and what the party is doing to put forward candidates that don't fall in to the "same old same old" category. It's a great piece that's worth reading:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/
This is just further evidence that Penry's campaign and his message of making a clean break from the GOP jokers that got our party in a ditch is gaining serious traction.
Ken Buck issued the following statement:
Ken Buck confirmed today that it's full steam ahead for his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
Buck said, "While other candidates may still jump in the Senate race, one thing is clear - our party's nominee will be chosen by Colorado's grassroots Republicans, not by political operatives in Washington D.C."
Buck said he has been deeply gratified by the strong response to his campaign from literally thousands of Coloradans over the past few months. "We have campaign leadership in every county in the state," he said.
Buck declared that his campaign has never been about him personally but rather about the critical importance of taking back the U.S. Senate seat from Michael Bennet.
Colorado deserves a strong independent Senator who will do the right thing for Colorado. Instead Buck claimed, "the appointed Senator Bennet has turned out to be just another rubber stamp for the big spending, big government liberals in Congress."
Ryan Frazier's campaign is also undaunted by the NRSC and will continue to push forward.
More details will emerge in the coming days surrounding the circumstances of the NRSC's meddling. Had Norton and individuals in DC involved succeeded in "clearing the field," Rep. Tom Tancredo was reportedly prepared to enter the race. The reasons for this will become clear as more details emerge.
UPDATE: The Denver Post reports this tidbit:
Buck said it was "Washington, D.C., insiders" who were behind the "shenanigans" to try to influence the race.
Buck said he made a brief phone call to Norton this morning to tell her he was still in the race. He said she said, " 'Thanks for calling' and that was the extent of our conversation."
UPDATE 2: Tom Wiens is also said to be unswayed by the Cornyn/Beauprez/Owens/McCain putsch.
In an e-mail to the state central committee today, Chairman Wadhams responds to the claims made in the Denver Post today by McInnis spokesman (and former Democrat activist) Sean Duffy. Here's the article:
http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_13236516
In his e-mail to the party faithful, Wadhams responds to the fallacious claims being made by the McInnis camp and reminds party leaders about Duffy's history working for Tim Gill funded causes like gay marriage domestic partnerships. Here's Wadhams' e-mail:
Monday, August 31, 2009
To: COLORADO REPUBLICAN STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
From: Dick Wadhams, State Chairman
COLORADO REPUBLICAN DINNER AND CANDIDATE FORUM
I am profoundly disappointed that one of the candidates for governor has indicated he will not attend our dinner and forum for candidates for Governor and U.S. Senator on Friday, September 25 at Keystone.
Former Congressman Scott McInnis released a letter this past Friday saying he would not attend the event, alleging that the straw poll will create “infighting.”
But even more disturbing is the suggestion by his campaign spokesman that we are somehow rigging the straw poll that will follow the forum that evening.
I am very perplexed how a candidate for governor has reached such a conclusion. Participating in a forum in front of Republican leaders from across the state and allowing those leaders to register their thoughts on who they thought did the best job in articulating why they should be our party’s nominee for major office is a tremendous opportunity for a candidate.
The letter from the McInnis campaign curiously alleges that the “straw poll provides discourse amongst ourselves.” Indeed it does!
“Discourse” is defined by Merriam-Webster as a “verbal exchange of ideas” and “formal and orderly and usually extended expression of thought on a subject.” And that is exactly what the forum is intended to do.
As Republicans, we believe competition makes us better and stronger. A rigorous, competitive nomination process produces better candidates. I managed the campaigns for Senator Wayne Allard in 1996 and Governor Bill Owens in 1998 when they had competitive primaries and went on to win in the general election.
This will be the first time Republican leaders will be gathered in one place since the candidates for Governor and U.S. Senator have been defined.
Immediately following the release of the McInnis letter, the Colorado Republican State Executive Committee, meeting in Pueblo this past Friday, voted 16 to 1 to move forward with the forum and straw poll. And we fully intend to do so.
Finally, the McInnis campaign spokesman said in today’s Denver Post he was “suspicious” of the straw poll. Consider the source of this allegation.
The McInnis campaign spokesman previously worked for liberal billionaire Tim Gill who has spent tens of millions of dollars attacking Republicans in Colorado. The spokesman just recently left his job at a Democratic political consulting firm that is running Governor Bill Ritter’s campaign.
Preliminary results are out for the extensive survey of over 600 Republican primary voters conducted by Ben DeGrow of Mount Virtus and Michael Sandoval of Slapstick Politics. The top-line results are below and detailed crosstabs and analysis will be released next week, so stay tuned.
July 2009 Colorado's Political Temperature Results
BUCK LEADS FIELD WITH $330,000 RAISED: They report 94% of individual contributions as coming from in-state, a stark contrast to Michael Bennet.
RYAN FRAZIER PREPARES TO FORMALLY DECLARE CANDIDACY: Ryan Frazier ended the quarter with $140,000 raised and has announced that he will soon be moving out of the exploratory phase into an official bid for the nomination.
Of course both campaigns lag behind Michael "the accidental Senator" Bennet, which is why you should get off your ass and donate to Fraizer or Buck.
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