It’s rare that someone would cast a vote based on who the No. 2 person on a ticket isSarah Palin in 2008 is the obvious exception — but running mates are important and can complement and boost a campaign.
In Colorado, the two leading candidates for governor both appear to have selected competent, steady candidates to be their lieutenant governor.
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper recently tapped Colorado State University-Pueblo president Joe Garcia as his running mate, and this week GOP candidate Dan Maes added former state Rep. Tambor Williams to his ticket. (Tom Tancredo is running with Doug “Dayhorse” Campbell, who already was chosen for the American Constitution Party ticket.)
Hickenlooper’s choice of a Hispanic university president from Pueblo is politically smart. Hispanics represent Colorado’s fastest-growing voting bloc, and while their interests and politics are diverse, they’re highly sought after by both parties based on their growing numbers.
Also, few issues will loom larger over the next four years than higher education as the state is forced to consider hacking the budgets for colleges and universities. Garcia will bring that experience and knowledge to Hickenlooper, whose background is as a municipal politician and business owner.
Plus, by adding someone from Pueblo, the Denver Democrat’s ticket has some regional flavor and appeal.
That said, we don’t know anything about what Garcia thinks about other state issues: the budget, transportation funding, taxes, job creation. We can assume his views are in sync with Hickenlooper’s, but we don’t know yet. For that matter, since he wasn’t engaged in a primary election, we don’t know much about Hickenlooper’s views on those issues beyond broad statements.
Fortunately, there are still 75 days until Election Day to learn more.
Maes’ choice of Williams also makes a good deal of sense, politically. By adding a former legislator who knows her way around the halls of the Capitol, the political neophyte has added some establishment heft to his outsider bid.
Williams spent eight years in the state House starting in 1997 and led the Department of Regulatory Agencies for two years. When we endorsed her in 2000, we called her a “leading moderate Republican.” Her centrist views in the legislature may put her at odds with Maes on some issues. And while that may chafe some conservatives — Williams supported Referendum C and led the charge to ask Gov. Bill Owens to restore state funding to Planned Parenthood — Williams helps balance out Maes’ far-right bent. That could help appeal to a broader spectrum of Republicans and unaffiliated voters.
Lieutenant governors may not be high-profile, but they serve as the state’s chief executive in the governor’s absence and are first in line for the top job should anything happen to the governor. That’s why these choices matter.
