The Democratic faithful will gather in Greeley on Saturday for an election- year conclave amid balloons, speeches and a political platform gingerly coiffed to the party’s strengths.
The 2006 party assembly could provide an acid test of political comity as a largely pro- choice crowd is asked to crown an anti-abortion nominee, Bill Ritter, for governor.
With two Republicans brawling toward their August gubernatorial primary, Democrats hope to give Ritter the advantage of a smooth path to nomination.
For Ritter, the race for governor has been a long haul that gained traction Feb. 6 when Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper announced he would not run. Since then, Ritter has managed to convince many Hickenlooper supporters that his anti-abortion stand would not undermine the party’s goals. Whether he has convinced enough we could know on Saturday.
Republicans are holding their own state convention in Colorado Springs this weekend, featuring the heated gubernatorial contest between Marc Holtzman and Bob Beauprez. The GOP has a small edge in voter registration, and party leaders are concerned that a primary battle could weaken the eventual nominee.
Reproductive rights is one of nine “immediate priorities” outlined in the Democratic agenda, and Ritter will need to walk a fine line if he addresses the subject in his assembly speech. Ahead of time, the Ritter camp would say only that he plans to emphasize such issues as education, health care and the economy, including rural Colorado and building a new energy economy.
“This battle between Holtzman and Beauprez has been going on a long time,” noted Colorado College political scientist Bob Loevy. “There will be high negatives for the Republican nominee from the August primary no matter who that is.”
The Democrats’ statewide contested races are for attorney general between Fern O’Brien and Robert Johnson, and University of Colorado regent, with Steve Ludwig challenging Milt Rogers. Delegates will decide who gets top billing on the November ballot. Overall, Democrats are hoping to hold their current majorities in both houses of the legislature and retake the governor’s office for the first time since the 1961-62 legislative session when Steve McNichols was governor. In addition, Democrats hope to pick up the 7th Congressional District seat, which Beauprez is relinquishing, and possibly the 4th CD, held by Republican Marilyn Musgrave.
That’s a full plate, and both parties will end their assemblies with a firm eye on the state’s August primary.
