John Hickenlooper’s “Bitter Clinger” Moment? Colorado Voters Uninspired

With less than two weeks to Election Day, the question lingers: Can liberal Democrat gubernatorial candidate John Hickenlooper really avoid all controversy until the election is over? National Review’s Michael Sandoval uncovers one controversy Hickenlooper might be unable to avoid, and it came straight from the mayor’s own lips in a 2009 interview:

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper: I think a couple things, I mean, you know, the tragic death of Matthew Shepard occurred in Wyoming. Colorado and Wyoming are very similar. We have some of the same, you know, backwards thinking in the kind of rural Western areas you see in, you know, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico.

People in rural areas might find reason to be a little incensed at Hickenlooper (Glenn Reynolds labels it the mayor’s “bitter clinger moment”). Meanwhile, as Who Said You Said points out, the small crowds and lack of enthusiasm at Hickenlooper events certainly aren’t limited to rural areas:

A few weeks ago I never would have guessed that Tom Tancredo would get a realistic shot to win the race for governor. But with Dan Maes’ continued delusional self-immolation (MP3) and John Hickenlooper’s unwanted controversies and unenthused crowds, we might just be looking at the biggest story of this crazy 2010 election season unfolding before our eyes.