U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman
Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman announced today that he would not seek the U.S. Senate seat against incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet. Coffman was the most-frequently cited choice to challenge Bennet, and polls showed why. According to sources, internal head-to-head match ups between Bennet and Coffman showed Coffman leading by three points. That’s the same lead that an April 15 Quinnipiac Poll showed.
As for Coffman, while he acknowledges he considered the run, he notes that he’s really focused on veterans issues right now. As he told the Denver Post: “But the fact is, I’m really able to get things done where I am right now. I’ve emerged as a national leader on veterans issues.”
Coffman is widely credited with his efforts to get the flagging Aurora Veterans Hospital back on track from being the first Colorado Congressman to blow the whistle on project discrepancies to fighting to secure additional funding to fulfill the promises made to veterans, Coffman has demonstrated that his heart belongs with veterans. Of course, this is more than we can say for Bennet who jumped on the VA hospital bandwagon this year after the issue seemed to be popular.
Coffman’s departure from the race leaves the door wide open to a deep bench of formidable Republican candidates, including state Sen. Ellen Roberts and District Attorney George Brauchler, who is currently prosecuting the Aurora theater shooter. Then again, as veteran reporter Eli Stokols points out, this might not be Coffman’s last look at the race:
Worth noting re: Coffman… Cory Gardner also said he for sure wasn’t running in July 2013. So… #COpolitics
— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) June 1, 2015
Anything is possible, PeakNation™. Stay tuned.