Coyote Gulch

Monday, March 10, 2008

? for U.S. Senate?

Here's an update on Colorado's race for U.S. Senator Wayne Allard's open seat from The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. From the article:

Nearly half a decade ago, the Western Slope and a majority of Coloradans rejected Referendum A, a $2 billion water-projects ballot initiative. Since then, nearly every major candidate who opposed what was branded in 2003 as a massive "water grab" -- from Congressman John Salazar, D-Colo., in 2004 to Gov. Bill Ritter in 2006 -- has met success on the Western Slope. Now, conservationists and Democrats hope Referendum A's legacy will again work in their favor in the state's contentious U.S. Senate race between Congressman Mark Udall, D-Colo., and former Congressman Bob Schaffer, R-Colo. Tony Massaro, senior vice president of public affairs for the League of Conservation Voters, said he hopes Western Slope voters see Schaffer's support for the ballot measure in 2003 and ask whether he "gets" the region's issues and character. "It's more kind of that indicator of: Is he in touch with us over here?" he said.

Massaro, a Glenwood Springs native and former director of the Colorado League of Conservation Voters, said Referendum A could put Schaffer "on the defensive" even before his campaign revs into high gear. Water attorney and former state Rep. Matt Smith, R-Grand Junction, said the relevance of a candidate's stance on Referendum A probably will fade over time, but it will not go away altogether. Smith, who led efforts to defeat Referendum A, said candidates' positions on the measure will indicate to voters where they stand on protecting Western Slope water. "I've seen some candidates try and describe why they were on the wrong side of that issue," Smith said. "They have not done well. It branded them, I think, badly on the thoughtlessness of the issue. It's going to be very difficult for them to get away from."[...]

John Redifer, a political science professor at Mesa State College, said he expects water to be an important issue but sees Referendum A for Schaffer and Animas-La Plata for Udall as ancient history to the average voter. "I think Referendum A is old news," Redifer said. "How long can you keep bringing up people's positions on Referendum A before people's eyes start glazing over? Same thing with Animas La-Plata." Redifer, a member of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, said national issues are more likely to shape the Senate race, even on the Western Slope. "I would say water is more important than it will be viewed in the eyes of voters," Redifer said. "The reality is the focus of our Senate (race) will play on issues that are important nationally."
Category: Denver November 2008 Election
7:31:51 AM