CO 2014

[coloradocowboi]

The University of the Colorado is one of the most liberal universities in the country and I'm sure a large % of Colorado's population went to school there.

This is very innaccurate. CU itself trends more conservative than a lot of universities because it is mostly rich out of state kids. Boulder leans left but the real force behind the Dem explosion is Latino growth in Jeffco, Arapahoe, and Adams making them trend blue.

Coffman is the best hope for state-wide.

He only beat a candidate who might have been a practical joke (google Joe Miklosi biker bill) by 5 points. Coffman would be a very weak candidate. Even if he runs in the 6th he might lose, especially if Andrew Romanoff takes him on.

2014 is shaping up to be another good year for Dems in CO. For starters, it is moving to the left. The Denver Metro area now contain 2/3 of the state population. 20 percent of the State is Latino. Denver has one of the highest concentrations of LGBT people and the state is relatively young.

Gov- Hickenlooper is reviled by Dems but all but guaranteed re-election. The GOP will likely sacrifice Scott Gessler to him.

Senate- Udall is a little weak but the Republicans have a horrible bench. Suthers and Norton would fare okay, but Beauprez and Coffmann are the front runners right now and both would lose statewide.

AG- This is going to be the real marquee race. The Republicans will have a choice between Tea-Partyin' Ken Buck and establishment candidate Cynthia Coffman (Mike's wife) and the Dems will choose between Boulder liberal DA Stan Garnett or Adams County DA, and Salazar protege/moderate Don Quick. Don Quick would easily win election statewide, but has less $ than Garnett so might not survive his primary. Quick vs. Coffman would be the most competitive race, but I sadly think that Buck vs. Garnett is more realistic. This will be a close one unless it is Quick vs. Buck.

SoS- This will also be a real interesting one. Jeffco Clerk Pam Anderson--related to GOP icon Norma Anderson--will likely be taking on CU Regent Joe Neguse. Gessler sh**t all over this office, but Joe is very liberal and not as well known. It's a tossup

Treasurer- The one bright spot for GOP is that Walker STapleton is a shoe-in for re-election, even if former Treasurer Cary Kennedy gives him a run for his money.

CD1- Will this be the year that someone gives DeGette a primary? Possibly... Rumors say State Sen. Mike JOhnston is looking at it.
CD2- Eventually people will start to feel the same way about Polis that they do about DeGette. His money will keep them away though.
CD3- Dems have a weak bench. IN 2016 this seat could be very vulnerable though.
CD4- GOP forever
CD5- See above
CD6- This is going Dem. Especially if Andrew Romanoff runs.
CD7- It is staying Dem. Latino % here only growing.

[coloradocowboi]

My advice for Republicans, find somebody who is a strong candidate in 2014 to run as govenor. John Suthers would be a viable choice to run in 2014.

If that doesn't work, Republicans should flee the state cause it's only going to become more Democrat, alot like California. Look what is happening to California, people are moving out of the state in droves.  That will happen to CO next decade, guaranteed.

No they aren;t. California has the most electoral votes of any state and will probably gain a seat in the 2020 Census. Texas is the only state that had more population growth than California in the 2010 US Census. People move out of the Northeast because of higher taxes but not CA though. People like the weather and the beaches in CA.

Explain why 254 companies are moving out of CA to more business places like Texas and South Dakota. Companies move where the business environment is more friendly to them without excessive tax burden and regulations. If you want beaches, go to Florida or even South Carolina.

Colorado is leading the example of California in the 80s and 90s right now.

This is highly inaccurate. Yes, companies are leaving CA but not because of high taxes, if anything it is the opposite problem. Their version of TABOR has nearly bankrupted the state and they have no new revenue. California has incredibly low taxes. So, you're right CO is going the way of CA, and TABOR is the reason why.

[coloradocowboi]

My advice for Republicans, find somebody who is a strong candidate in 2014 to run as govenor. John Suthers would be a viable choice to run in 2014.

If that doesn't work, Republicans should flee the state cause it's only going to become more Democrat, alot like California. Look what is happening to California, people are moving out of the state in droves.  That will happen to CO next decade, guaranteed.

No they aren;t. California has the most electoral votes of any state and will probably gain a seat in the 2020 Census. Texas is the only state that had more population growth than California in the 2010 US Census. People move out of the Northeast because of higher taxes but not CA though. People like the weather and the beaches in CA.

Explain why 254 companies are moving out of CA to more business places like Texas and South Dakota. Companies move where the business environment is more friendly to them without excessive tax burden and regulations. If you want beaches, go to Florida or even South Carolina.

Colorado is leading the example of California in the 80s and 90s right now.

CA has more people and more electoral votes than FL or SC or even if you combined FL and SC electoral votes together CA would still have more electoral votes and more people.

And explain to me why CA is the worst run state in the US again?

TABOR... They are bankrupt.

[coloradocowboi]

My advice for Republicans, find somebody who is a strong candidate in 2014 to run as govenor. John Suthers would be a viable choice to run in 2014.

If that doesn't work, Republicans should flee the state cause it's only going to become more Democrat, alot like California. Look what is happening to California, people are moving out of the state in droves.  That will happen to CO next decade, guaranteed.

And CU is an extremely liberal institution with Boulder being solidly liberal, not lean. When was the last time republicans were actually competitive there?

The president of the University of Colorado, Bruce Benson, is a Republican who once ran for governor and the board of regents is, I believe, basically split between conservatives and liberals.  Brian Davidson lost by a point in November in the statewide regent seat which would have given Republicans an edge.  Now I think it's something like 4-4.

And, as a somewhat recent CU alum, I'd say that Boulder itself is probably more liberal than CU students.  Young Republicans are actually the majority in student government, or so I recall.  It's a pretty diverse campus, politically speaking.  The out-of-state crowd is mixed, and the in-state kids kind of mirror the state as a whole--some Denver liberals, some suburban conservatives, some evangelicals, some hippies, some ranching kids, etc.

I am in CU Student Government and the majority is Dems... for now. But it has fluctuated in the past.

As for your other comments, I disagree. Colorado actually has higher levels of support for gay marriage than Oregon and we passed 64 while legal weed failed there. Colorado is more similar to 2000 Oregon than it is to modern NC. And, with a majority of people under 18 being non-white, the GOP has to really change if it is going to start winning. Right now El Paso and Douglas counties are all that keep them competitive, but Jeffco, Arapahoe, Larimer, and Adams are drifting away.

Just look at the County Commissioners race in Jeffco. Casey Tighe should never have won, but he managed to eke it out. Denver has one of the highest gay populations in the country and Latinos are blowing up. If the GOP does not moderate itself in the next decade, it will become irrelevant.

However, they will have a chance if the Democrats get cocky and nominate uninspiring candidates like Morgan Carroll for AG or Joe Miklosi for the 6th CD.

As for your comments about Udall, then why is he trouncing Coffman by over 10 points in recent polls? He will be too hard to beat. Only Jane Norton could take him out.