Wealthy donors and once- skeptical liberals are finally lining up behind Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter, who struggled for months to get the full support of his party.
On Wednesday, a day after Democratic state Rep. Gary Lindstrom dropped out of the race, 20 state lawmakers stood publicly behind Ritter. Also, the four millionaires who are credited with helping the Democrats take control of the state legislature two years ago have also said they are backing the former Denver district attorney.
Among those endorsing Ritter on the west steps of the Capitol was Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Jefferson County. The senator, like some other Democrats, had been uncomfortable supporting Ritter in the past, primarily because he does not back abortion rights.
“Indeed, this is a great day for Colorado because what you see behind you is a unified Democratic Party,” she said.
Ritter said the long process had made his campaign and the party stronger and that he had the “leadership and vision” to lead the state.
Support for Ritter also is now coming from Quark founder Tim Gill, Colorado Board of Education member and dot-com millionaire Jared Polis, and billionaire heiress Pat Stryker, who has sent Ritter a $1,000 donation, said her spokesman, Al Yates.
And wealthy software entrepeneur Rutt Bridges, who dropped out of the Democratic gubernatorial race soon after entering, said he would do whatever he could to help Ritter win.
“I’m working hard for Bill,” he said, noting how critical it is for Democrats to unify behind Ritter if they want to win the governor’s race.
“We’re Democrats. We don’t have the money to waste on a bitter primary,” he said.
Additionally, the Democratic Governors Association, which is organized as an independent 527 committee, is prepared to back Ritter.
The group has about $10.5 million, according to politicalmoneyline.com, a research group that tracks political fundraising.
Ritter is expected to face either Republican former University of Denver president Marc Holtzman or GOP Rep. Bob Beauprez in the general election.
Staff writer Karen E. Crummy can be reached at 303-820-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com.
