Patrick Davis Consulting

Mayor John Hickenlooper

Statewide campaigns’ 4^th quarter revelations

Colorado Statesman: Despite Ritter’s departure from the race, his fourth quarter finance report gives clues to Hickenlooper’s potential financial backers, who range from high powered lawyers and lobbyists to green energy moguls to entertainment super stars, including Barbra Streisand and Chevy Chase. Ritter’s campaign raised $2,268,861 in 2009, $569,444 in the final quarter, and closed with $962,537 cash on hand. The top donor, the Colorado Democratic Party, gave generously — $40,000 in the final lap — and will no doubt extend the same helping hand to Hickenlooper’s campaign. More…

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Dems Joblessness a State of Mind

Rush Limbaugh: Rush received a call on his radio show from a listener in Colorado whom relayed this message to Rush: according to Mayor Hickenlooper, unemployment is a state of mind. Rush was aghast: “But I’m most intrigued by the fact that unemployment is a state of mind.  Had a Democrat mayor… Is this supposed to comfort people?” More…

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Denver Mayor Mum on Tax Bills

State Bill Colorado: Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper is using a move from the Republican playbook by not taking an immediate stance on a controversial set of bills that would eliminate a series of tax exemptions and credits for a variety of Colorado goods, according to one political analyst. Meanwhile, Hickenlooper’s campaign manager Mike Melanson said the mayor “understands and supports the important work lawmakers are doing at the state Capitol,” and that commenting on pending legislation doesn’t make that job any simpler or more effective. More…

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Democrat Hickenlooper Edges Past Republican McInnis in Colorado Governor Race

Politics Daily: Denver’s Democratic mayor, John Hickenlooper, has edged ahead of former Republican Rep. Scott McInnis in the race to fill the seat of Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter who decided not to seek re-election, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Feb. 4. More…

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GOP candidate lashes out at Colo. governor, rival

Forbes (AP): McInnis delivered a provocative speech to the National Western Mining Conference in Denver. Appealing to an audience largely affected by the recession, McInnis blamed Ritter’s administration for contributing to the industry’s unemployment by passing an executive order that allowed state employees to form unions and rewrite new oil and gas rules; a policy that he would revoke as governor. Also, McInnis took a shot at his opponent, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, for the Mayor’s comments about the recession being driven in part by people’s attitudes. The loss of jobs and business is “real life, not a state of mind,” McInnis said. More…

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Voters have plenty of choices this election

Canon City Daily Record: For governor, Republicans Scott McInnis, Dan Maes and Yoon Mager have filed along with Democratic Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. More…

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Gubernatorial hopefuls spar

Durango Herald News: One day after McInnis’ address, Hickenlooper spoke to the National Western Mining Conference in Denver and responded to his opponent’s jab: “I think more people in elected office should have small business experience,” Hickenlooper said. “I don’t think someone who’s been 12 years in Congress and then worked as a lobbyist is going to approach the job of creating jobs the same way that I will. More…

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First thoughts: The lost week:

MSNBC: First Read: Colorado was ranked number two out of the top ten states to watch in 2010 “based on the number of good races, and also what they might tell us about the overall political environment and the emerging 2012 race. Like Ohio, it has competitive Senate, House, and gubernatorial contests, and it’s a state where Democrats have had plenty of success the past few cycles.” More…

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As politicians waffle on climate change, glaciers exit Glacier National Park

Colorado Independent: Much like the environmental issue itself, Hickenlooper is hot and cold on the subject of climate change. As the Mayor flip-flops on the issue, voters whom favored the gubernatorial candidates are likely to withdraw their support.  Indeed, last year while he was at the international climate change conference in Copenhagen, Hickenlooper said he was shocked by the power of climate change evidence. Last week, however, Hickenlooper departed from this previously held sentiment during an address to the crowd of mining industry executives by saying that the “final verdict” has yet to be made on climate change. More…

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Scott McInnis “sincere” in offer to John Hickenlooper about denouncing tax legislation

Denver Westword: Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis made a speech in Pueblo about what he considers to be job-killing tax increases on candy and other items that were passed by the Colorado senate on Wednesday. Previously, McInnis had asked the Mayor for his support to denounce the tax increases: Hickenlooper declined the opportunity, but “has said he’s uncertain about some of them,” he allows. More…

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Hickenlooper silent on business tax-break bills; McInnis mum on alternatives

Denver Business Journal: Ed Sealover: Blog: “All right, let’s make it official: Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper is not going to take a stand on the package of tax-exemption cuts that Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is expected to put into law when the bills reach his desk as early as next week.” More…

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Maes stumps at the chamber

Highlands Ranch Herald: According to Maes, Hickenlooper’s emergence as the Democratic heir apparent to Gov. Bill Ritter, adds credence to Maes’ argument that Colorado needs a business executive at the helm. As for Colorado’s relationship with the federal government, Maes emphasized a need for state autonomy and reprised his campaign’s business metaphors: “Don’t tell us how to run our business.” More…

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Majority party is hurting business

Pueblo Chieftain: Sen. Josh Penry: Sen. Penry slams Hickenlooper in this editorial: “Sadly, the Democratic candidate vying to replace Ritter will bring more of the same job-killing policies to Colorado.  Apparently Denver Democrats weren’t paying attention when the voters of Massachusetts rejected big government.” More…

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Governor candidate tours area

Pueblo Chieftain: During a tour of Southern Colorado, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper seemed to favor holding off any expansion of the Pinon Canyon training site.  ”From the moment I hear they were thinking of using eminent domain I thought that was crazy,” Hickenlooper said. He also said that, without getting the Army’s side of the story; it could be a waste of federal dollars to expand the site when it may not be used for anything. More…

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Split verdict in Medical Marijuana Case Creates More Questions

KRDO 13: Sean Hauser: An ironic verdict regarding a Pueblo man’s pot case has left many people dazed and confused. Hickenlooper was touring southern Colorado at the time that the verdict was announced. “The issues surrounding medical marijuana are complex,” said the Denver Mayor and Gubernatorial candidate John Hickenlooper. He also admitted that there’s no clear direction the state has been able to take on the medical marijuana issue. More…

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Hickenlooper visits Salida

Mountain Mail: Audrey Gilpin: Hickenlooper is touring Colorado as a reconnaissance mission to gain valuable information on identifying what issues affect locals and how they are affected by it. For example, the Denver Mayor gathered from a visit in Salida, that small amount revenue from the state negatively affects the quality of local education. More…

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Littleton Republican plans to enter race for governor

Denver Post: Yoon Joo Mager, a first-generation Korean immigrant, will announce her candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor of Colorado today. More…

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Stimulating conversation: on anniversary of Recovery Act, political sides heat up the debate

Denver Daily News: Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, said that instead of the 60,000 jobs that the stimulus bill was supposed to create, 86,000 jobs were lost. “Mayor Hickenlooper, Sen. Bennet and Gov. Ritter are just as responsible as President Obama for this failed ‘stimulus’ bill that has done nothing but drive up unemployment and the federal debt.” More…

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Denver’s transport woes: Back to the drawing board

The Economist: In 2004, Denver approved FasTracks, a $4.7 billion project which would expand commuter railway lines across the metropolitan area by 2017. At the time, John Hickenlooper, Denver’s mayor, said that “the whole community came together in the region at a level that we’ve never seen before.” However, construction costs, safety requirements and low tax revenue have resulted in a $2.4 billion shortfall on the FasTracks project. Indeed, the expression ‘stop the train’ was announced this time by the recession. More…

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Obama stumps for Sen. Bennet in Denver

KDVR-TV: Obama visits Colorado to support Sen. Bennet’s tough reelection campaign and is greeted by the Senator and Denver Mayor Hickenlooper.  More…

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Text of President Obama’s remarks

Denver Post: President Obama associated Sen. Bennet with Denver Mayor Hickenlooper during the president’s speech at a grassroots fundraiser for Sen. Michael Bennet: “Then, he (Sen. Bennet) put his talents to use making Denver work better. And Mayor John Hickenlooper, one of America’s finest mayors — (applause) — soon to be one of America’s best governors, knows how valuable Michael can be.”  More…

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Fox News:  (Video)  Jane Norton Comes Out Against Jobs Bill, Says “It’s Too Small”

Republican Colorado Senate candidate Jane Norton has taken a stand on the jobs bill that passed through the Senate Wednesday. The former Colorado Lieutenant Governor responded to a question on Fox News regarding Scott Brown’s decision to vote for cloture on the bill:

“I can’t speak for Scott Brown, but I think that there was frustration with this jobs bill that it was to little, too late. I think the the people who voted against it said ‘we need to provide certainty in the marketplace for our businesses,’ and the bill was too small.“  More…

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Morning Score: Schwarz for one term?

Politico: 2010: Alexander Burns: There are two takes on President Obama’s visit to Colorado in support of Sen. Bennet’s reelection. The first is that the President is checking in on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act law that he announced in Denver a year ago. The second take is championed by challenging Democratic and U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff: “The President’s early visit to Colorado is a signal of panic within the Bennet campaign.” More…

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Partners In Change: President Obama and Senator Michael Bennet

Huffington Post: Nancy Cronk: “During the course of Sen. Bennet’s first year in office, President Obama saw something distinctive in this fresh, young senator from Colorado. He saw a partner for transformative change in Washington.” More…

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Bennet sticks with labor

Politico: David Cantanese: Sen. Bennet stood with organized labor and the Obama administration by approving nominee Craig Becker for the National Labor Relations Board, with a vote in his favor, a vote that could have significant repercussions for his election campaign. More…

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Denver Ballot 2010: US Senate Primary (D)

Examiner: In a get-to-know-the candidate’s article, background information on sitting Senator Bennet and Former Colorado State Representative Andrew Romanoff, suggests that the Democratic colleagues will have a close race while competing against each other for the US Senate. The 2010 Primaries will be held in August. More… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

As politicians waffle on climate change, glaciers exit Glacier National Park

Colorado Independent: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff, who is challenging Sen. Bennet in the primary, says reckoning with climate change would be one of his top priorities as a senator, along with education and health care reform. “I don’t think we should have to spill our blood or spoil our skies just to power our planet.” More…

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Colorado Senate Race — The First Big Endorsements

Huffington Post: Wade Norris: Despite the promising support from President Obama, Sen. Bennet’s reelection campaign became very competitive after his challenger, Andrew Romanoff, received endorsements from sixty-one legislators and from two of the largest unions in the State of Colorado. More…

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Felicia Muftic – GOP may have to carry heavy Tea Party baggage

SkiHiDailyNews: Felicia Muftic: Sen. Michael Bennet and former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff have not clarified how they differ on critical issues: a potential factor in the approaching primary. However, if the Tea Party creates a problem for the state Republican senatorial race, then “the greatest campaign gift either Bennet or Romanoff could receive is a Republican Party candidate driven so far to the right by the Tea Party movement that moderate independents would be turned off” and therefore cast a vote towards either Democratic candidate. More…

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Bring back public option, via reconciliation, Bennet urges

Daily Sentinel: Sen. Bennet is urging Senate Democrats to sidestep the threat of a filibuster and adopt a health care package that includes a public option in a letter sent to Majority Leader Reid.  “Put simply, including a strong public option is one of the best, most fiscally responsible ways to reform our health-insurance system,” Bennet said in his letter to Reid. Republicans said Bennet is courting disaster at the polls in November, should he get that far. More…

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Gibbs briefing aboard Air Force One

Fox News: As the President was headed to Colorado to support Sen. Bennet, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs briefed reporters aboard Air Force One about the political landscape in Colorado, bipartisanship, and the issue of campaign finance in the U.S. Senate campaign. More…

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Obama stumps for Sen. Bennet in Denver

KDVR-TV: Obama visits Colorado to support Sen. Bennet. Since the visit is early in the campaign, and Sen. Bennet is trailing in the polls, Obama is needed to help the Democratic Senator’s reelection bid. More…

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Text of President Obama’s remarks

Denver Post: Remarks by President Obama at a grassroots fundraiser for Sen. Michael Bennet at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver on Thursday afternoon. More…

Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin – SD-AL

Wealthy GOPer criticized for Dem donations (updated)

The Hill: Blog Briefing Room: Wealthy Republican candidate Scott Sipprelle, who is looking to challenge Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.), is under fire for donating to Congressional Democrats. “Last June was the height of the battle for Congressional Republicans [and] Scott Sipprelle made donations to not one, not two, but five separate Democrats,” including Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (S.D.). More…

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VA: Most GI Bill calls did not connect

Air Force News: Rick Maze: Problems with the call center were raised Thursday by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s economy opportunity panel, who urged VA officials to do something about the problem. Herseth Sandlin, whose panel has jurisdiction over the GI Bill, questioned the closure of the call center for two days each week. More…

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Shenanigans: Get to Know Rep. Cynthia Lummis

Politico: Anne Schroeder Mullins: Rep. Lummis says, hypothetically, she would vote for Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D. in a congressional beauty pageant. More…

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Matheson, Congress Blue Dogs urge fiscal reform

Desert News: Lee Davidson: A Blue Dog Coalition of Democratic moderates released 10 proposals to fix problems including discretionary spending and the deficit budget in their “Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform.” Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., Blue Dog co-chairwoman, said the blueprint shows that “the first choice we need to make is to stop digging the hole deeper,” and that it “charts a path in the short- and long-term to address the critical financial issues that threaten America’s security.” More…

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US House Democrats Mull Fast-Track Option For Health Bill

Wall Street Journal: Patrick Yoest: Dow Jones Newswires: On Tuesday, several House Democrats spoke about passing a Senate version of the legislation, accompanied by a second bill making a series of changes–doing the latter by “budget reconciliation,” a fast-track process that requires only a simple majority of 50 votes in the Senate for passage of legislation. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, (D., S.D.), who is a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative House Democrats, argued that Democrats should attempt to restart negotiations with Republicans rather than try reconciliation. More…

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SD Delegation Reacts to President’s Speech

Keloland: “My hope is that the President will challenge leaders in both political parties to help meet the needs of the American people, businesses, and families we represent,” Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said. More…

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Promoting Wind Development

Brookings Register: Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin met with group to discuss cooperation between Congress, USDA Rural Development and Harvest Wind to further promote community wind development in South Dakota and to discuss the role that the 2008 Farm Bill programs and Recovery Act tax credits and grants has on renewable energy. More…

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Herseth Sandlin lauds ‘pay-as-you-go’ return

Sioux City Journal: The pay-as-you-go measure is an amendment to a resolution that will raise the federal debt limit by $1.9 trillion to $14.3 trillion. Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin said some members of Congress won’t vote to increase the debt ceiling to make a political point, but said she’d vote for it, because South Dakotans don’t want the U.S. to default on debts owed. She said a return to pay-as-you-go “has been a priority of mine since the day I arrived” in the House in 2004. She stated pay-as-you-go has shown to be “a serious, proven” way to improve the federal budget picture, as was shown in the 1990s.  More…

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Weekly Clips from January 21, 2010 through February 04, 2010

Mr. John Hickenlooper and Sen. Michael Bennet

Mayor John Hickenlooper

Romanoff refocuses on Senate bid

Colorado Statesman: Ernest Luning: Romanoff publicly declared that he will campaign for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Bennet. This public address crushed wide-spread speculation which resulted when Romanoff had considered running for governor, a move that would have pinned him against the Denver Mayor. Romanoff clarified his position with this statement: “I admire his creativity and his leadership. I support his candidacy, and I look forward to campaigning with him this fall.” More…

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Poll watch: Dems holds edge in Hawaii, GOP leads Senate races in MO, PA and AR

Campaign Diaries: Taniel: This blog responds to Research 2000’s Colorado poll which shows that Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper is the strongest of the Democrats running for governorship.  More…

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Hickenlooper is the best candidate

Steamboat Today: Dylan Roberts: As the Mayor of Denver, John Hickenlooper’s record on critical issues such as the budget crisis, homelessness, and jobs creation may help to position him in the eyes of the voters as a well-qualified candidate for the governorship. “During the worst economic downfall since the Great Depression, Colorado needs a successful businessman to lead our state.”  More…

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Hydraulic Hybrid Systems refocuses on core technology

Loveland Report-Herald: “Denver International Airport’s fleet of 200-plus light-duty trucks, used for everything from plowing snow to maintaining runway lights, burned through about $1.3 million worth of gasoline and diesel fuel last year.  Everybody connected with the airport, from the guy who manages the fleet to Mayor John Hickenlooper, would like to see that number come down.” More…

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Granite Commercial Management to Attend the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Commercial Real Estate Finance Conference (MBA CREF)

PRWEB: Hickenlooper will be the keynote speaker at the annual Commercial Strategies for Success in Construction Lending (SSCL) seminar. “Commercial real estate and construction industry topics featured at the event will include FDIC Regulatory Developments, Construction REO & Workouts, Economic Update and Forecast, SBA Compliance and Product Development, and Commercial Construction Lending Best Practices.” More…

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Political leaders comment on State of the Union

Longmont Times: Colorado Republican Party chairman Dick Wadhams had this to say in reaction to the President’s address: “Colorado has lost tens of thousands of jobs since the failed Obama-Ritter-Hickenlooper-Bennet ‘stimulus’ bill was signed. President Obama continues to push his job killing ‘cap and trade’ and health-care reform bills despite clear and increasing public opposition. Just like Gov. Bill Ritter, who withdrew from running for reelection in the face of near certain defeat, Mayor Hickenlooper and Sen. Michael Bennet continue to mindlessly support the failed Obama agenda to increase the size, cost and scope of the federal government.” More…

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Denver’s Driving Change Program Reduces Vehicular CO2 Emissions

Enviance: Driving Change, the world’s first Internet-based vehicular greenhouse gas (GHG) tracking system, today announced significant reductions in GHG emissions by the City and County of Denver as a result of online feedback on how driving behaviors impact the environment and fuel costs. “Once the Driving Change system revealed and quantified the idling issue, we were able to use the system to target the problem and measure our success in reducing this wasteful practice, allowing us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money on fuel at the same time.”  More…

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Ski Industry Brings Denver Its Largest Convention Ever

First Tracks!! Online Media: The four-day convention will be held in Denver for the next eleven years and is expected to have an economic impact of $60 million. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper stated, “We are pleased to host the SIA Snow Show and welcome its 18,000 attendees to the Mile High City. This convention will give our region a significant economic lift, as well as an opportunity to continue showcasing all of the great outdoor activities Colorado has to offer. This is a tremendous opportunity for Denver and our state.” More…

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Oil bash turns into political brouhaha

Denver Post: Much to the perturbations of the Senate minority leader, Josh Penry, the Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper schmoozed with the audience at an oil and gas reception, an event which was hosted in honor of the new Colorado Oil & Gas Association president. Penry stated that the oil and gas industries are among the biggest economic issues in Colorado. “The new president was more than a little naive to give Hickenlooper a stage without questioning him on how he’s been consistently silent or dead wrong on the issues facing this industry.” More…

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On your toes, Mr. Mayor

Denver Post: Joanna Davidson (blog): John Hickenlooper stopped by the Colorado Ballet Auxiliary’s annual gala long enough to express his support both for the company and the arts in general (Picture of the posing mayor).  He also confessed that he had taken three years of modern dance in college, and “There are pictures of me in a leotard — which I’m sure will surface at some point during the (gubernatorial) campaign — and it’s not a pretty sight.” More…

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News: Flobots receive Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts

Denver Post: John Wenzel (blog): Music fans praised the Mayor not only for his specific selections of artists, of whom were recipients of the Mayor’s Award, but also because of the attention in general that he gives the arts. More…

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Michael Bennet

Romanoff refocuses on Senate bid

Colorado Statesman: Ernest Luning: Appealing to a constituency that he thinks Sen. Bennet has both frustrated and undermined, the former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff formally declared that he will campaign for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Bennet: an announcement that has clarified recent speculation of the contrary.  More…

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Citizens United fallout: Colo. GOP to file suit

Politico: Jessica Taylor: “In one of the first repercussions of Thursday’s Citizens United ruling, the Colorado Republican Party says it will sue to overturn state limits on corporate and union expenditures…Undoing the limits could have a significant impact on key Colorado races such as appointed Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet’s campaign. He faces both a primary and general election challenge.” More…

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Thursday Fundraising Roundup, GOV Edition

National Review: Hotline On Call: Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) is making the DSCC happy today; he announced he’s pulled in $1.2M in the final 3 months of the year, leaving him with $3.5M CoH. More…

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Funding to help with the heating costs

Denver Daily: In a bipartisan letter to President Obama, Sen. Bennet and 48 of his Senate colleagues obtained almost $5 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contingency funds. More…

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Buck backs hold on EPA carbon regulation takes Bennet to task

Greeley Tribune: Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck is one of several challengers in the Republican primary running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Bennet, D-Colo. Buck endorsed a resolution to stop the Obama administration from regulating carbon dioxide emissions and reserving that authority for Congress. Buck noted that Sen. Bennet is not among the resolution’s co-sponsors. “Bennet is all too willing to rubber-stamp even the worst of Obama’s policies,” Buck said. Other GOP candidates for the Senator’s seat include former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton and former state Senator Tom Wiens. More…

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Political leaders comment on State of the Union

Longmont Times: Sen. Bennet is pleased with the focus and vision of President Obama’s national address. Sen. Bennet’s statements include: “After a lost decade of declining wages and eroding security for the middle class, the last thing working families can afford is more of the same — and it’s going to require all of us, working together, to get results.” More…

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Did Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet Forget He Has a Primary?

Huffington Post: Wade Norris: Either Rachel Maddow has a political Magic 8-Ball or Sen. Bennet is victim to a general trend in national politics. It has been a year since Rachel Maddow dubbed Sen. Bennet a “conservadem”, a term that refers to a coalition of Democrats who covertly act in opposition to Obama’s federal agenda by favoring legislation such as reducing federal spending, watering-down climate change legislation and preventing passage of health care legislation (video). Wade Norris affirms with great detail how Sen. Bennet’s actions and votes over the past year can indeed qualify him as a “Conservadem.” Norris attempts his own political prophesy by predicting that the Democratic primary will force Sen. Bennet to reveal and defend his apparently “covert” centrism, a less-than-favorable position in a critical election. More…

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Primary time: Let the political family feuds begin

AP: Forbes: Liz Sidoti: “’Tis the season when Democrats and Republicans eat their own.” One of the most popular battles in the Senate primaries include Sen. Bennet’s race, which reveals the internal rivalry within the Democratic party, has captured the eyes of the nation. More…

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This is for our readers in Colorado

Chuck’s Blog: Ed: Tea Party organizer in advises Coloradoans to recall Sen. Bennet though petition. “As we saw last year, Congress’s priorities are global warming, nationalization of banks, car companies and healthcare, as well as acquiescence to union demands and funding, with taxpayer dollars, of liberal front groups. I believe this is all coming to a head, and here is where we all come in. I want to alert all of you to a move in Colorado to have a recall election for Mark Udall and Michael Bennet.” More…

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Senators urge extension of COBRA, unemployment benefits

Hawaii 24/7: Sen. Bennet and 30 senators sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus urging an extension of unemployment benefits and eligibility for the COBRA Premium Assistance Program through Dec. 31, 2010. More…

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Reverse Midas: Obama to campaign for beleaguered Sen. Bennet in Colorado

Michelle Malkin: “Oh, goody. The man whose in-state appearances helped doom Democrats Jon Corzine in New Jersey, Creigh Deeds in Virginia, and Martha Coakley in Massachusetts is now scheduled to campaign for flailing Democrat Sen. Michael Bennet here in Colorado. President Obama will bring his reverse Midas Touch to the mountain West next month.”  More…

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Presidential Sins

Go Exec: Charlie Cook: Robustly pushing the economic stimulus package, stubbornly promoting health care reform, and neglecting the negative public reaction to TARP are three “presidential sins” committed by President Obama. Furthermore, “congressional Democrats were at least enablers and often willing co-conspirators. Obama may have led them off a cliff, but they seemed determined to go along.” Consequently, Sen. Bennet’s Senate seat is in “grave danger.” More…

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Udall, Bennet Congratulate Denver City Councilman Rick Garcia on Appointment to Regional HUD Post

(RealEstateRama): “Today, U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet congratulated Denver City Councilman Rick Garcia on his appointment by the Obama Administration to serve as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Region VIII Director. Rick is a great choice for this position,” Senator Bennet said.” More…

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POW Presents ‘Generations’ To Congress

Transworld Business: Kailee Bradstreet: In their respective vernacular, ‘global warming’ is to politics as the ‘endless summer’ is to snow sports’ enthusiasts: a term which represents an issue of concern for the interested party. Protect Our Winters (POW), coalition of snow sports’ enthusiasts, “met with key lawmakers and staff largely from US mountain states who are also leaders on climate change and in key positions on the hill to influence the direction of this issue.” More…

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Senate Race On Track To Match CO’s Priciest

AP: This year’s Senate race in Colorado is shaping up to match the most expensive in history. Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet raised $1.15 million in the fiscal quarter that ended Dec. 31. His challenger, former state House Speak Andrew Romanoff, raised $337,000. More…

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Craig Becker Confirmation Vote: Michael Bennet Not Off Hook on Card Check

People’s Press Collective: Ben DeGross:  Obama administration may appoint the Associate General Counsel to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Craig Becker. The administration’s “efforts to backdoor the so-called Employee Free Choice Act (aka card check) through the appointment of SEIU lackey Craig Becker” may receive support by Sen. Bennet despite opposition from Colorado union members. “Fellow Democrats in Congress like the indecisive appointed junior U.S. Senator Michael Bennet wouldn’t have to take an obvious position that either offends the Obama administration or the overwhelming number of Coloradans (and a majority of Colorado union members) opposed to this destructive proposal to re-write labor laws.” More…

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GOP’s Senate Prospects on the Rise

NewsMax: “If the election were held today, the Republicans could come close to winning back the Senate, if not actually win it,” said pollster John Zogby. The political atmosphere in Colorado also has changed sharply. The latest poll by Daily Kos, a liberal Web site, gave a one-point edge to freshman Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat, but recent polls by Rasmussen show former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, a Republican, with a 12-point lead over the incumbent. More…

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Obama, Senate Democrats, and 2010

MSNBC: First Read: Senior aides told NBC News that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid planned to only call on those Democrats running this November to pose questions to President Obama at his meeting today with Senate Democrats. Sen. Bennet was able to ask the president a question, which the Senator also forwarded to the president in advance. More…

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Pres. Obama: Transparency made healthcare bill better; more needed

The Hill: Tony Romm (Blog Briefing Room): President Obama responded to Sen. Bennet’s inquiry regarding the lack of coverage of the healthcare debates with this statement: “The truth of the matter is the process looked painful and messy, but the innumerable hearings that were held did give an opportunity for the product to get refined so that I think the ultimate package… is better than where we started.” More…

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Remarks by the President at the Senate Democratic Policy Committee Issues Conference

White House: The Newseum: President Obama and fellow Democrats sang about “change” all the way to the White House. But, in a question and answer time between Senate Democrats and the president, Sen. Bennet seemed to suggest that this reoccurring campaign theme song is no longer in tune. “What are we going to do differently?  What are you going to do differently?  What do we need to do differently as Democrats and Republicans to fix this institution so that our democracy can actually withstand the test that we’re facing right now? More…

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Obama to appear at Bennet fundraisers

Denver Post: Why is the president campaigning for Sen. Bennet in February? According to the Denver Post, “Obama’s visit so early in the year signals his commitment to Bennet, who was appointed to the post, reads an e-mail sent to potential donors and fundraisers. “Rather than parachute in at the last moment as happened in some recent Democratic elections, the president has made the Bennet campaign a real priority, and is coming early in this election year to show his support,” according to the e-mail.” More…

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Obama to Colorado for Bennet fundraiser

The Hill: Sean Miller: (Blog Briefing Room): The president is campaigning for Sen. Bennet, but his Colorado appearance in February represents the degree of support that the Senator needs for his campaign. “The president’s early visit to Colorado is a signal of panic within the Bennet campaign,” said Bill Romjue, Romanoff’s campaign manager. “Sen. Bennet is beginning to realize that all the money he has raised in Washington, much of it from industries that have perennially blocked the Democratic agenda, will not protect him from the voters of Colorado.” More…

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