The Rocky Mountain News sheds light on yesterday's radio ads. According to the report, the ads were produced by "Coloradans for Freedom and Opportunity," or the political henchmen of the pro-tax increase power brokers in the state Republican party. Last year Marc Holtzman challenged their stand on Referendum C, and they throw buckets of mud back - mostly innuendo. I wonder where the preponderance of the GOP's grassroots - who are scheduled to convene in Colorado Springs on May 20 - stood on Ref C. Well, let me tell you: with Holtzman, not with Katy Atkinson and Bruce Benson. I have a hard time explaining the timing of the release of these ads, except that the anti-Holtzman crowd are attempting to curb a defeat at the State Assembly, … [Read more...]

Marc Holtzman deserves a round applause for choosing the high road today. He has poured a lot of his life and energy and resources into this race, and things certainly did not proceed as he had hoped. No doubt, when he really started pushing his candidacy a couple years ago, this is not how he foresaw it all coming to an end. To do what he did today was difficult, but honorable: "Let’s have no tears," he said at his campaign headquarters, "only memories of great experiences together." Holtzman said he called Congressman Bob Beauprez, his GOP rival, this morning after learning of the supreme court’s decision. Holtzman said he is endorsing Beauprez. Give Marc some time to get away, get some R & R, get married, etc. Then let's … [Read more...]

The Dead Governors appear to be the first on the story of alleged conflict of interest going on in the Republican primary. And there's a LOT of disinformation floating around in the comment section, as usual. There is only one essential disagreement between the Holtzman campaign and the State Republican Party: is it proper for a professional political vendor to work for two clients with overlapping interests? I hate airing dirty Republican laundry like this, but when you are close enough to the sources to know what's going on, and the whole thing needs to be cleared up, well... the choice was easy. … [Read more...]

Last week I highlighted the burgeoning campaign of Affie Ellis for State House District 29 in north Jeffco, as she prepares to challenge vulnerable Democrat incumbent Debbie Benefield. Another Republican woman who is changing the dynamics of the fall elections for the state legislature is Aimee Rathburn in Denver's House District 1, a seat being vacated by term-limited Democrat Representative Fran Coleman. While it's hard for the GOP to capture any seat in Denver, HD 1 is easily the best shot. And Rathburn, a candidate with gumption and good ideas, is set to make her mark, as this press release correctly indicates: Aimee Rathburn, the GOP’s House District One candidate, is sending shockwaves through the Colorado political community … [Read more...]

To Colorado Democrat legislative leaders Joan Fitz-Gerald and Andrew Romanoff, "Nice try." The "Wish away the immigration issue, Supreme Court decision, and Special Session" card just wasn't available, so they made the next best possible political move: threatening to call their own special legislative session. Unfortunately for them, the analysts quoted in the Rocky Mountain News are right on: "It's completely an idle bluff," said Eric Sondermann, a political consultant. "In this particular poker game, the governor holds all the high cards. "The Democrats are trying to exert any leverage they have in how the call for the special session is crafted so that the governor doesn't craft it too narrowly," Sondermann said. "At the end of … [Read more...]