Colorado Republicans Battle to Take Back 'Blue' State From Democrats

Colorado Republicans are on the offensive, hoping to take back a formerly red state that gradually turned solid blue in the past 10 years.

That much is clear at the party's state assembly this weekend. There are more delegates than two years ago, and many of them are first-timers. Tea Party people, 9-12 advocates and long-time party faithful have gathered at a Loveland conference center about an hour north of Denver.

"It is exciting and upbeat," said party Chairman Dick Wadhams on Friday evening. "That hotel was on fire today with all the assemblies."

As delegates and their families mingled at Friday's meetings and an evening barbecue, complete with a band fronted by an Elvis impersonator and hay bales covered with candidate signs, Republican National Committee regional political director Alan Philp looked on approvingly.

"Colorado is one of the most important states nationally because of what's at stake," Philp said. "There's a governor's race up for grabs, a U.S. Senate seat, several congressional races that Republicans can win."

But there's also a sense of caution, a desire not to take anything for granted, a factor that some say contributed to losses in 2004, 2006 and even 2008.

"It's too easy to think we have it sewn up," said Dorothy Gotlieb, a former state representative from Denver, who is "cautiously optimistic" about her party's chances. "You run to be first, but you run like you're second.

Others echoed her sentiments.

"We still have to work hard and we still have to raise money and we can't take anything for granted," said Mark Hillman, a former state senate majority leader who is now a national committeeman.

Part of the caution stems from a U.S. Senate primary that's turned nasty in recent weeks. Former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, all but blessed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is being challenged by Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, a favorite of the Tea Party crowd.

The 3,500 or so delegates placed Buck on the top of the Aug. 10 primary ballot Saturday, with three other Senate candidates going through the assembly process failing to make the ballot. "It's a sign of respect to come here and ask for your support," Buck told cheering supporters.

Most surprisingly, gubernatorial front-runner Scott McInnis had to settle for second place as challenger Dan Maes pulled out a narrow victory. Maes, backed by the slogan "The Revolution is Here," drew a far more enthusiastic response from delegates Saturday than McInnis, who has raised considerably more money and has better name recognition than his opponent.

In the Senate race, Norton and another potential candidate, former state Sen. Tom Wiens, are gathering signatures to make the primary ballot.

Norton's rejection of the assembly process angers many activists. She showed up Friday and briefly addressed some of the groups that were nominating congressional candidates.

And she posted this message on Facebook Friday: "Last night in Jefferson County, Ken Buck was angry about our plan to petition on to the ballot. He should take it up with Congressmen (Tom) Tancredo, (Doug) Lamborn and (Mike) Coffman. They all petitioned, and they all won. Our plan, exactly."

Buck is emphasizing his grassroots appeal - and his gain in recent polls.

Norton, Buck and other GOP candidates are looking to capitalize on anger over President Obama, a Democratic Congress and a faltering economy.

"A lot of people are just excited to get involved after what they've been seeing the past year and a half," Wadhams said.

Connie Taylor, a first-time delegate from Larimer County, said she got involved because of her frustration with government.

"I'm upset no one listens," she said. "It's about answers back from the congressmen and the senators who are in my state."

Taylor is supporting Buck and Cory Gardner, a state representative who'll challenge first-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey for a seat Republicans hope they can win. She cast one of the votes Friday that put Gardner on the August primary ballot unopposed.

"This is when a grassroots meeting has an impact."

But if the Senate race continues along a divisive path, it could spell trouble for some high GOP hopes.

"Republicans, at least in Colorado, have perfected the art of the scorched-earth primary," said Rob Witwer, a former state lawmaker and co-author of "The Blueprint: How the Democrats Won Colorado and Why Republicans Everywhere Should Care." "You have the best political environment in years, but if the Republican Party goes into the general election deeply divided, that gives hope to Democrats."

"The Blueprint" chronicles how Democrats took over both of Colorado's U.S. Senate seats, five of seven House seats, the governor's office and both chambers of the legislature, using a network of nonprofit activist organizations, lots of cash and a solid strategy.

"Colorado Democrats built a better political mousetrap, " Witwer said.

Colorado Republicans are hoping to replicate that mousetrap, with a new fundraising and organizational structure called Common Sense Colorado.

"Campaign finance reform has really left only one viable option for building infrastructure," Witwer said. "That's nonprofit organizations."

Former congressman and anti-immigration activist Tom Tancredo is forming a similar organization, the American Legacy Alliance, aimed at raising money and supporting conservative candidates.

Democrats also gathered at their annual assembly, setting up their own Senate primary between appointed incumbent Michael Bennet and former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, the favorite of delegates on Saturday. Tipping a hat to an appearance by former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in Denver on Saturday night, the Dems kicked off their meetings with a "Half-baked Alaskan" fundraiser Friday night. Recent polls put Bennet ahead of Romanoff -- and Bennet leads all the competition combined in campaign fundraising.

While the Democrats dined on "half-based Alaskan," the Republicans have the hunger in Colorado.

"The landscape is just 180 degrees different," Hillman said. "It'll be nice to run candidates when you have a tailwind instead of a headwind."