Good News In Colorado

by Stuart Shapiro

Things went about as well as possible for Democrats in Colorado last night.  Incumbent Michael Bennet held off a strong primary challenge from Andrew Romanoff and, perhaps more importantly, the Republicans nominated another tea-party favorite and gaffe-prone candidate, Ken Buck.  Buck, you’ll recall, said he “did not wear high heels” in response to a challenge from his primary opponent, Jane Norton, and called birthers “dumbasses.”

While initial polls between Bennet and Buck are close, this pairing is good for the Democrats in two ways. Obviously, it is the matchup most favorable to the Democrats.  Secondly, however, is that Buck joins Sharron Angle, Rand Paul and others in allowing the Democrats to weave a national narrative about the election.  Just as Republicans are telling all their candidates to run against Pelosi and Rangel, Democrats (if they are smart) will now run against Angle, Paul, and Buck, regardless of the location of the election.

I doubt it will be enough to stave off all defeats, but it might just keep the Democrats in control of both Houses of Congress.

By: Stuart Shapiro

Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.