Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter said Wednesday that abortion did not play a role in picking his running mate, Barbara O’Brien.
“I really invested no thought in that part of it,” he said.
Perhaps, but political observers say it was a savvy decision. Not only does choosing O’Brien – who unlike Ritter supports abortion rights – balance the ticket, it sends an early warning shot to other Democrats who are considering getting in the race.
“I would call this an important move for Ritter in what appears to be an invisible primary,” said Seth Maskett, a political science professor at the University of Denver. “Other potential candidates like (Denver Mayor) John Hickenlooper are appealing because they are popular and pro-choice. Ritter’s choice makes that a little less important.”
The former Denver district attorney said he picked O’Brien, head of the Colorado Children’s Campaign for the past 15 years, because of her dedication to children, education and health care.
“She is committed to protecting the kids of Colorado. She is innovative. She is relentless,” he said Wednesday on the playground next to Family Star pre-school in Denver.
Although it’s early in the political season to announce a running mate, Maskett said it’s a growing trend. For instance, Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley, who is running for governor, picked his lieutenant governor in December.
But Maskett cautioned: “It’s hard to know exactly how much difference a running mate makes.”
It certainly doesn’t seem to have had any immediate impact on women who support abortion rights.
For instance, the addition of O’Brien didn’t change NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado’s position..
“It’s still the governor who signs and vetoes bills,” said the group’s executive director, Kathyrn Wittneben.
And Denver City Councilwoman Carol Boigon, who thinks O’Brien is so “brilliant and works so well with both political parties” that she tried to convince her to run for governor three months ago, said that as a woman who fought for abortion rights, she’s unsure whether she can support the Ritter-O’Brien ticket.
“I don’t want government getting between me and my doctor,” she said. “Do I now support Bill?” she said. “I’m really struggling with that.”
Hickenlooper and his supporters have haunted Ritter’s campaign for months, as the mayor goes back and forth on whether he will run for governor. Unfortunately for Ritter, said professor Bob Loevy, he could be worrying about Hickenlooper for at least a few more weeks.
“It may be like this until March,” said Loevy, a political science professor at Colorado College.
Or longer. Candidates don’t have to go through the caucus process in March. They can also petition onto the ballot, or request to be a write-in candidate, according to the secretary of state’s office.
