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Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Won't Seek Re-Election

By Jeralyn, Section Colorado News
Posted on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:23:30 PM EST
Tags: Bill Ritter (all tags)
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Update: My speculation as to reason: He liked being DA better than being Governor. Maybe Obama will announce he's going to be Colorado's U.S. Attorney. Until we hear tomorrow, I think it's as possible as any other reason being floated.

This is a shocker. Flashing across my tv screen, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter won't seek re-election. He hasn't given a reason. He will make the announcement in the morning at an 11 a.m. press conference. From Political Wire:

A fundraiser scheduled for tonight was canceled and all campaign staff was sent home in the middle of the day. The decision does not appear to be fundraising related which has reportedly gone better than expected.

[More...]

I think the Dems will keep the Governor's mansion. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper would be unbeatable in my view, and other replacement names being mentioned are Interior Secretary (and former Senator and Colorado Attorney General) Ken Salazar and Rep. Ed Perlmutter. Any one of them would beat former Rep. Scott McInnis, the Republican candidate, in my view.

I hope it's Hickenlooper. I'm as tired of Salazar as I am McInnis and he's no progressive as he showed in the Senate, time and again. I like Perlmutter a lot, but I think it would be a closer race with him as the Democratic candidate than it would be with Hickenlooper.

As to Ritter's real reason, I like him a lot so I'm not going to speculate. I'm sure others will.

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    Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Won't Seek Re-Election | 24 comments (24 topical)

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    Ritter was likely going to lose the election. (none / 0) (#1)
    by tigercourse on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:29:01 PM EST
    His approval numbers aren't great. Alot of Dem Governors are going to lose in 2010.

    I disagree and his fundraising (none / 0) (#2)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:31:17 PM EST
    was going well. I think something else is behind the decision.

    Parent
    While money is very important, it's not (none / 0) (#3)
    by tigercourse on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:40:26 PM EST
    everything. But you might be right. I don't know that state very well.

    Parent
    So you felt compelled... (none / 0) (#19)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 08:57:24 AM EST
    ...to chime in because...?  

    It's pretty clear that do you not know Colorado politics very well.

    Parent

    Sorry for having an opinion about something (none / 0) (#22)
    by tigercourse on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 09:13:52 AM EST
    I'm not an absolute expert on. People rarely do that on the internet I'm told.

    Parent
    The internet is a funny thing. (none / 0) (#24)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 10:04:30 AM EST
    Like when you say silly, unfounded, uninformed things, people sometimes call you out on it.  

    Parent
    Basically, unless you are Governor Ritter, (none / 0) (#25)
    by tigercourse on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 01:09:29 PM EST
    you don't know much more then me.

    Parent
    Me Too (none / 0) (#4)
    by dissenter on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:52:25 PM EST
    And I will put money on an affair.

    Parent
    those rumors were raised (none / 0) (#7)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 11:13:08 PM EST
    a long time ago and the proponent of them said he has no confirmation. As of a month ago,no one did. And Colorado Governor Bill Owens, his predecesser, had worse allegations (and his marriage ended in divorce.) And then, there was Gov. Roy Romer who admitted an affair.

    I hope threats of exposing an affair, real or alleged, aren't the reason he is dropping out.

    I know he liked being DA better than Governor. Maybe Obama will announce he's going to be U.S. Attorney. Hmm, think I'll update the post with this idea. It's as good as any other right now.

    Parent

    Something is definately going on. (none / 0) (#21)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 09:04:22 AM EST
    Very hush-hush, whatever it is.  When most every one of the Dem movers and shakers were completely taken by surprise, you have to wonder.  

    From what I'm hearing it may be family related, but nothing about an affair.  

    Parent

    Little Off Topic (none / 0) (#5)
    by dissenter on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:56:47 PM EST
    But J.