U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar vowed Tuesday to do whatever he could to help get Bill Ritter elected governor and called on fellow Colorado Democrats to unite behind the former Denver district attorney, regardless of his stance against abortion rights.
“We need to move beyond the polarization of the issue of abortion,” Salazar said, standing on the steps of the state Capitol with Ritter and his running mate, Barbara O’Brien. “I will fight against anybody, including those in my own party, who say abortion should be a litmus test.”
Salazar’s endorsement is expected to give a face-lift and a fundraising boost to Ritter’s campaign. The senator’s connections – not to mention donor list – should help Ritter raise money both in and out of the state, said Jennifer Duffy, who analyzes Senate and gubernatorial races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report in Washington, D.C.
“If Salazar puts the effort into this, it should make a big difference for Ritter,” Duffy said. National money also is expected to pour in eventually, she said.
Although there are 36 gubernatorial races this year, many of those considered competitive a few months ago have turned out to be political letdowns. With the possibility of Colorado Democrats keeping control of the legislature and picking up the Governor’s Mansion, national political players see an opportunity.
“If the Democrats win, it could make a big difference in 2008,” Duffy said. “It could affect everything from the presidential election to (Republican U.S. Sen.) Wayne Allard’s re-election.”
State Rep. Gary Lindstrom of Breckenridge is running against Ritter for the Democratic nomination. Republicans Marc Holtzman and Congressman Bob Beauprez are vying for the GOP spot.
Salazar’s endorsement surfaced just 24 hours after Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper announced he would not run for governor. But the “anyone-but- Bill” campaign continued.
House Majority Leader Alice Madden of Boulder said she is seriously considering running against Ritter for the nomination and is garnering support from many of the party’s more liberal members and strong abortion-rights advocates, including Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Jefferson County.
But Madden would have to bridge a fundraising gap of hundreds of thousands of dollars. She would also face an uphill battle with moderate voters.
“The problem is, Madden and some others who may consider getting in the race are very liberal,” said Denver pollster Floyd Ciruli. “If she is labeled as a liberal, it’s extremely difficult to get toward the center and win the general election.”
Regardless of what others might do, Ritter’s campaign is moving ahead. Ritter said he was using Salazar’s 2004 campaign as a model for his own, and has even opened his campaign headquarters in the same building.
A populist message, hand- shaking and shoe leather were largely credited with helping Salazar overcome the GOP voter-registration edge to beat Republican Pete Coors in 2004. Salazar visited all 64 counties at least once and focused on the state’s large number of unaffiliated voters and a small percentage of moderate Republicans.
The strategy is not lost on Ritter, who has been driving his Ford pickup to all corners of the state and has his staff breaking down the state precinct by precinct to see where Salazar’s message and tactics were most successful.
“We want to clearly communicate to folks that Bill is a moderate, centrist Democrat who is independent and not beholden to any interest group,” said Evan Dreyer, spokesman for Ritter.
The campaign may also take pages from other politicians’ playbooks. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat who opposes abortion rights, was elected in November. Ritter’s campaign has talked to members of Kaine’s campaign staff about his strategy, Dreyer said.
Ritter also is looking at a quest by Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey Jr. to wrest a U.S. Senate seat away from Republican Rick Santorum. Casey also opposes abortion rights.
Taking the divisive, highly charged issue of abortion rights out of the mix in a general election means candidates can focus more on other factors affecting the state, Duffy said. It also tends to defuse the more conservative wing of the Republican Party.
“When you take it off the table, the right doesn’t get fired up and it takes the issue out of the air wars,” Duffy said.
Staff writer Karen Crummy can be reached at 303-820-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com.
