THE NEVER-ENDING CAMPAIGN: NRCC Blasts Romanoff, Names Coffman To Patriot Protection Program

Published on April 22, 2013 by

We may be over 18 months from Election Day 2014, but with the permanent campaign now a reality in politics, that’s no reason not to start running ads defining your opponent today.

This morning the NRCC announced they were launching a series of web ads, hitting 6th Congressional District candidate Andrew Romanoff for his ties to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The NRCC also has a landing page dedicated to Romanoff, which signals the types of attacks it plans on using to frame the former State House Speaker.

The DCCC ran web ads against Congressman Coffman back in February, but as Romanoff is less known in the district (to which he just moved for the race) there is more room to define him than Coffman at this point in the race.

This race is likely to be hard fought until the bitter end, with the district a virtual toss-up and both candidates raising obscene amounts of money already.

On that front, Coffman just made the National Republican Congressional Committee’s (NRCC) “Patriot Program”, which is designed to protect vulnerable incumbents. Reports KDVR‘s Eli Stokols:

Coffman, R-Aurora, has qualified for the NRCC’s Patriot Program, the group announced Monday morning. 

It’s hardly a surprise to anyone given the competitiveness of the race between Coffman and Democrat Andrew Romanoff, the former statehouse Speaker, who both raised just more than $500,000 in the year’s first fundraising quarter. 

Through a number of member-based communications, fundraising and strategy goals established at the beginning of the cycle, the program helps to ensure that its GOP members are ready to run well-funded and organized campaigns against their Democratic opponents.

Depending on the caliber of candidates who declare for the Governor and US Senate races, the Romanoff vs. Coffman CD6 battle could end up becoming the marquee race in the state. With the fight beginning this early, it’s certain to be a long, rough road to November 2014 for both candidates.

 

COFFMAN CASH OPERATION WINS POLLIE: Starboard Group Takes Top Honors For Fundraising At Political Consultant Awards

Published on April 11, 2013 by

Colorado’s premiere Republican fundraising outfit, The Starboard Group, has been racking up the accolades as of late for their work raising money for Congressman Mike Coffman in 2012. Last month they were nominated for the Best Fundraising Program award by Campaigns & Elections magazine. Today they announced they had won the prestigious Pollie award for fundraising from the Association of American Political Consultants (AAPC).

From their press release:

“We are honored to receive this recognition,” Kristin Strohm, a managing partner and founder of the firm said. “Our whole team worked tirelessly on Congressman Coffman’s re-election campaign and it is so satisfying to know that our work was not unnoticed by our peers.”

The Pollie Awards were presented at the AAPC’s annual gala dinner, which the association bills as “the most prestigious gathering of political professionals from around the country.” The dinner was held in Washington, D.C. on Friday, April 5.

The coming 6th Congressional District race looks set to have two big dollar behemoths going head-to-head in Andrew Romanoff and Congressman Coffman. Both raised over $500,000 in the first fundraising quarter this year, and it’s likely neither campaign will be pinching pennies until the very end.

When it comes to The Starboard Group, there is no rest for the weary it seems.

 

BIG MONEY IN POLITICS? Romanoff Knows All About It…Until He Runs For Office Opposing It

Published on March 25, 2013 by

Andrew Romanoff, the likely Democratic nominee for the 6th Congressional District, and failed U.S. Senate primary contender in 2010, talked to Denver Westword on Friday about his upcoming campaign and had some interesting things to say. In particular it was his bloviating about special interests that caught our attention, as we thought that trope had been trampled pretty effectively last go-round.

 “I see folks in Washington forgot the people who sent them there…

“…Special interests have enough politicians on their payroll already…

“I don’t think you should have to sell your house to serve in the House… There’s something wrong about a system that says, ‘Only millionaires need apply.”

OK, maybe Andrew Romanoff (D-Renting) got a bulk rate discount on campaign clichés. Maybe he’s really a starry-eyed amateur who thinks he can raise money for his campaign by ringing a bell outside a Whole Foods Market. Or, just maybe he’s picked a really ironic campaign platform to challenge Rep. Mike Coffman. Why is it ironic?

Hmmm, let us count the ways:

(1) Four millionaires bought Romanoff a really nice gavel in 2005. The Gang of Four (Tim Gill, Pat Stryker, Jared Polis, Rutt Bridges) weren’t exactly average lefties who dropped some coins in Romanoff’s campaign jar after he spoke at their Common Cause chapter meeting. They dropped millions and bought him the Legislature.

He can’t pretend he wasn’t there.

According to Rob Witwer/Adam Schrager’s The Blueprint, Romanoff accompanied Rep. Alice Madden on a fundraising pitch to Pat Stryker and Al Yates in October 2003. Did he oppose big money in politics at that meeting? Who “sent him” to the Speaker’s chair, and does he remember them?

(2) Only millionaires need apply to run for Congress? Maybe if you’re a Democrat. It worked for Jared Polis. It worked for whats-his-name…ahem, Michael Bennet [clearly Romanoff is still sore about that one]. But can you bang the class warfare drum against Mike Coffman — a lifelong military grunt who served in both Iraq wars?

In fact, let’s compare Romanoff’s race to become Speaker of the House to Coffman’s last Congressional race and see who is really a man of the people. According to OpenSecrets.org: 

• Average individual contribution to Coffman for Congress in 2012: $1,100

• Average individual contribution to Romanoff’s State House 527, Alliance for Colorado Families, in 2004: $42,888.

(3) It’s likely Andrew would have needed to sell his house to run for CD 6 anyway, as his former Denver domain didn’t reside in CD6.

(4) No one said it better than Romanoff’s former Democrat opponent, Michael Bennet, in 2010, with this ad pointing out that not only has Romanoff taken gobs of money from special interest Political Action Committees (PACs), but he was running his own PAC until four months after he entered the U.S. Senate race. There’s a word that comes to mind here…

 

HEY LADY, SIT DOWN: Romanoff Pushes Newell Out; Democrat Men’s Club Wins Again

Published on February 8, 2013 by

Colorado Democrats talk a good game on “women’s rights”, but when push comes to shove, it is the Men’s Club that usually gets the upper hand when it comes time to decide who is running for high office.

It happened again today as State Senator Linda Newell, a popular swing district Democrat who has won two tough elections, got pushed out of the way in the Democratic race to challenge Mike Coffman by Men’s Club member Andrew Romanoff, a Democrat who rose to the position of Speaker of the House without ever running in a competitive seat. 

From the Colorado Statesman:

Junkies will recall that Romanoff hastily announced his candidacy for Congress last weekend, just days after Newell first expressed interest in a bid herself. The rapid-fire move by Romanoff apparently checkmated Newell before the game even started.

The fact that Newell actually lives in the competitive heart of Coffman’s District, and Romanoff doesn’t even live in the District, doesn’t matter to those sitting at the progressive roundtable. Today it was deemed from on high — Andrew is their Man.

Can’t you just hear Romanoff telling Newell: Senator, why don’t you handle the dishes while the men go to the living room to talk?

All of this obviously doesn’t sit well with Colorado Pols.

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EARLY START: Andrew Romanoff to Run Against Coffman in CD6

Published on February 2, 2013 by

According to the Denver Post, Andrew Romanoff filed paperwork yesterday with the Federal Election Commission to run as the Democratic challenger to Republican U.S. Representative Mike Coffman in Colorado’s Sixth Congressional District in 2014.

The announcement comes amid much speculation that he would run for the seat, despite his party’s ongoing search for a better alternative and/or someone who actually lives in the district.  (Although, Romanoff did sell his house in 2010 to fund his failed Senate run, so perhaps he’s far less constrained by housing circumstances.)

The NRCC’s TQ Houlton responded to the news by saying that “Romanoff is wildly out of touch with the needs of Colorado’s hardworking families.”

Romanoff plans to spend the weekend rounding up support for his candidacy in Adams and Douglas Counties.

Romanoff is the first of potentially several Democrats to jump into the race.  Speculation continues about whether John Morse, Karen Middleton or Linda Newell will file. It seems unlikely that another rumored candidate, Rep. Rhonda Fields, will run as Romanoff’s announcement included praise from Fields.

 

 

 

 

HARD FEELINGS: Democrat Establishment Trolling For Romanoff Alternatives

Published on January 30, 2013 by

With news that State Senator Linda Newell is publicly eying the 6th Congressional District race, there are now three Democratic candidates talking openly of entering the race, with at least three more looking privately. With so many names floating out there now, it’s hard to ignore the candidate fishing expedition that the Democratic establishment seems to be on looking for alternatives to perennial possible candidate Andrew Romanoff.

Our sources tell us that U.S. Senator Michael Bennet’s sphere of influence is still influenced by hard feelings. As most readers likely remember, Romanoff ran a bitter primary against the newly-appointed Bennet in 2010, going so far as to sell his house to pay for last minute attack ads.

If Romanoff thinks he gets a free shot, he better think again.

From our friend, FOX31‘s Eli Stokols:

DENVER — State Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton, is now the third Democrat who is considering running against GOP Congressman Mike Coffman in 2014.

“Yes, the rumors are true,” Newell said. “I’m seriously considering a run at Congressional District 6 in 2014. 

“In the last couple of months, citizens and political leaders across the state have come to me with the same inquiry. People in our district want a woman in Congress who has a strong record of bipartisanship and moderate values.”

While Andrew Romanoff may have been first to float his name publicly, voices from across the Democratic Party infrastructure are letting him know the nomination is not his for the taking.

From Colorado Pols:

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CARPETBAGGER CONUNDRUM: Why Can’t Democrats Still Not Find CD6 Candidates Who Live In The District?

Published on January 15, 2013 by

With word from Politico’s Alex Burns today that Andrew Romanoff is again looking at a CD6 run, this cycle is already beginning to feel like, as Yogi Berra would say, deja vu all over again.

Former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, who helped lead a Democratic resurgence in the state before mounting an unsuccessful 2010 Senate campaign, is considering a run for Congress in 2014. 

Romanoff told POLITICO that he may challenge GOP Rep. Mike Coffman in the upcoming midterm elections. Coffman’s district grew more competitive after the last round of redistricting, and the Republican won reelection with less than 49 percent of the vote in 2012. 

Romanoff said he wasn’t diving into the race just yet, but the 46-year-old ex-legislator is eager to get back into government.

As we reported yesterday, just like last cycle, now-Senate President John Morse is also eyeing the seat currently held by Republican Congressman Mike Coffman.

Both Romanoff and Morse looked at the seat last cycle, and just like last cycle, they still don’t live in the district.

Nor did last cycle’s CD6 Democratic nominee, Joe Miklosi, when he announced his campaign…squandering probably the Dem’s best opportunity to knock off Coffman. Between the high turnout generated by Obama’s unprecedented turnout machine and the fact that many of the voters were new to Coffman due to redistricting, 2012 was probably Dems’ best chance. It’ll be a much more uphill climb in 2014.

How is this still happening? The Democrats drew the freaking district themselves during the redistricting process in 2011. Did the Democrat map drawers not look at where prominent Dems lived before sketching out the lines?

 

BUZZ: Senator Morse Courting DCCC For Coffman Challenge

Published on January 14, 2013 by

Never mind that he doesn’t live in the District, Senate President John Morse (D-Camaro) is reportedly chatting up power-brokers in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) about the possibility of challenging Rep. Mike Coffman in 2014, according to our sources.

Last cycle, Morse was also looking at challenging Coffman, according to Lynn Bartels, but ultimately decided to let Joe Miklosi take the lead on losing the race.

Not living in the district he is seeking to represent would not be new for Morse. In 2006, when he first ran for State Senate he moved into a condo inside the district only days before the deadline to qualify for the district. Candidates must live in a legislative district for at least one year prior to the election.

As a Congressman, Morse would be eligible for a healthy pay raise, jumping from his current salary of $30,000 to $174,000 as a Member of Congress. This may be a consideration for Morse, who was investigated by an Ethics Committee in 2011 for claiming official per diem on days he was playing golf, having dinner with lobbyists and attending political fundraisers.

The Ethics Committee empaneled to investigate Morse, and appointed by then-Senate President Brandon Shaffer, had a Democratic majority and decided not to pursue the charges based on a technicality. But it’s not every day the Senate President decides to formally investigate his own #2.

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CO WHO? Bennet Votes with Constituents, Udall Votes with Party

Published on January 2, 2013 by

Last night, as legislators voted on the fiscal cliff deal, a curious thing happened. Colorado’s Democratic U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall voted opposite each other.  Bennet was one of just eight senators who voted “no” to the deal, while Udall voted yes.  In his statement following the vote, Bennet said:

“Coloradans have told me they want a plan that materially reduces the deficit. This proposal does not meet that standard and does not put in place a real process to reduce the debt down the road.  While I do support many of the items in this proposal — for example, extending unemployment insurance, the wind production tax credit and tax cuts for most Americans — I believe they should have come in the context of a comprehensive deficit reduction package.”

Bennet and Udall have the same constituents, so it’s puzzling that Udall would vote no.  It’s also worth noting that Democratic U.S. Reps Degette (Dean of the Delegation), Polis, and Perlmutter also voted for the deal while Republican Reps. Coffman, Lamborn, Tipton, and Gardner all voted against the deal.

With Bennet citing Coloradans preferences for his vote, one has to wonder who inspired Udall’s vote.  Since Udall hasn’t had a townhall since August 2012, according to his web site (see below), it’s understandable that he wouldn’t have a clue about the preferences of Coloradans.  But, the truth is that it’s Senator Udall’s job to know what  Coloradans sent him to Washington, D.C. to accomplish.  Coloradans didn’t send him to Washington, D.C. to vote with everyone else.  We sent him to D.C. to vote in our best interests.  It’s unfortunate that he doesn’t understand that concept and didn’t bother to ask Coloradans how they would like him to vote.

 

NATIONAL JOKE: Joe Miklosi’s Horrific First Ad Mocked By The Cook Political Report

Published on October 26, 2012 by

Congressional candidate Joe Miklosi has been the subject of much mockery in the Colorado media — from his bill to prevent alleged discrimination against biker gangs to being deemed a “Legislative Loser” by The Denver Post. Now Miklosi is getting ribbed in front of a much more national audience.

In an article by the nonpartisan, and highly regarded, Cook Political Report about strong ads helping vulnerable candidates, there is a bonus section dedicated to poking fun at one of the worst ads this cycle: Joe Miklosi’s.

The article is behind a paywall, but here’s the relevant section.

If you’re looking for proof some media consultants should keep their candidates away from scripts and cameras if they can’t act, look no further than Democratic state Rep. Joe Miklosi’s painful ad against GOP Rep. Mike Coffman in Colorado’s 6th CD, which might be one of the reasons his favorable/unfavorable scores are worse than the incumbent’s in some polls.

Check out Miklosi’s monstrosity made for mockery after the jump:

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