Democrat Michael Bennet Survives Romanoff Senate Challenge in Colorado

Sen. Michael Bennet, striking a blow for establishment candidates on the line this year, survived a stiff primary challenge Tuesday from former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff in what became a proxy battle of presidents past and present.

Romanoff, who has been active in politics for nearly 20 years, positioned himself as an insurgent and challenged Bennet from the left. He appealed to the netroots and local party activists, thumbed his nose at the White House and the Democratic National Committee, and sold his own home to help finance his campaign.

Gov. Bill Ritter named Bennet to the Senate seat that opened up when Sen. Ken Salazar joined President Barack Obama's cabinet as interior secretary. Bennet, a former financier and Denver schools superintendent, not only overcame Romanoff's determined challenge, he prevailed despite a recent Page One New York Times story that questioned a major financial decision that Bennet made regarding the Denver public school pension fund.

Former president Bill Clinton endorsed Romanoff, who supported Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential race. Bennet was an early supporter and contributor to Obama, and had the president's support in the primary.