The clock is ticking for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez to name a running mate. By state law, he must announce his pick for lieutenant governor “no later than seven days following the primary election.”
There’s no word from Beauprez’s campaign as to who it might be. Names floated earlier included Secretary of State Gigi Dennis and current Lt. Gov. Jane Norton. Several GOP insiders said Dennis should not be the candidate after she nullified petitions that kept Beauprez’s GOP rival Marc Holtzman off the ballot. “It would be political suicide,” one Republican said.
Beauprez is challenging Democrat Bill Ritter, who chose his running mate Barbara O’Brien in January. Beauprez aide John Marshall said the person chosen “will be a good complement to our ticket” but that “people will be more focused on Bob Beauprez and why he’s going to make a good governor.”
Vilsack digs deep
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, a potential 2008 presidential contender, dropped a few bucks into the Democrats’ legislative coffers when he was in Colorado last month. A $2,500 donation from his political action group, Heartland PAC, went to Moving Colorado Forward, the group formed under Section 527 of the tax code, to help Democrats keep their majority in the Senate. Another $2,500 went to Mainstreet, a group working to keep a Democratic majority in the House.
Democrats won majorities in both chambers in 2004 for the first time in more than four decades and are battling to extend the franchise. “There aren’t many politicians who have political action committees and who come into town prepared to help the local effort for the House and Senate,” said Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald.
Vilsack schmaltz fizzles
Democrats are still poking friendly fun at Vilsack, who tried to paint himself as a common man during a speech in Denver to the Democratic Leadership Council. The theme was the “American dream.” A stellar lineup of speakers told tales of family sacrifice and modest upbringings. U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar told of his parents toiling on a southern Colorado farm to give eight children a good life. Sen. Hillary Clinton told of the entire family working in her father’s drapery factory business after World War II to get the business going.
Vilsack told of his adopted father’s membership in the local athletic club, a club his father’s parents helped found. As a boy, he would stop at the club after school for a burger and Coke. One day, he walked in, ordered a cheeseburger and cherry Coke and was told by the waiter that his family no longer belonged to the club. Vilsack was crushed. His father, whom he noted “wasn’t a particularly successful businessman,” had sold the membership to help pay for his son’s education.
Democrats said afterwards that Vilsack’s tale lacked the schmaltz of the other speakers. “He needs to work on his schtick if he’s going to run for president,” groused one Democrat. Added another: “Maybe Gov. Vilsack ought to get a better moment of reckoning.”
Back in the saddle
No sooner did U.S. Rep. John Salazar return to the family ranch in Colorado for Congress’ summer break than he got bucked off his favorite horse, a thoroughbred named Durango.
Salazar was about 30 minutes into a ride to round up cattle when he relaxed, let go of the saddle horn and moments later went flying through the air. Except for a sore right ankle, a torn boot and a bruised left leg, Salazar said he’s none the worse for wear.
“It’s a little like politics in Washington,” Salazar joked. “You can’t relax for a minute.”
Salazar said he’s back in the saddle and campaigning for re-election.
Julia C. Martinez (jmartinez@denverpost.com) is a member of The Denver Post editorial board.
