Andrew Romanoff leads Democratic Senate candidate caucuses (Colorado)

[TexasTowelie]

Source: Denver Post

Andrew Romanoff claimed to have won a grassroots victory Saturday as he led John Hickenlooper, his better-funded and better-staffed rival for the U.S. Senate, in statewide caucuses of Colorado Democrats.

Romanoff, a progressive favorite, won 55% of the raw vote and Hickenlooper won 31% with 55 of 64 counties, including Denver, reporting late Saturday, according to the Colorado Democratic Party. However, several counties will not report their results or the number of delegates won by candidates until Sunday.

Precinct caucus results will determine the number of delegates that candidates have at upcoming county caucuses. Results there will determine delegate counts at an April 18 state assembly, where candidates will need at least 30% support to have their names placed on June 30 primary ballots.

The caucus is one of two ways to get on the Senate primary ballot — candidates also can do so by gathering signatures — and only about half attempted the caucus route. Low turnout at Saturday’s precinct gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak had some Democrats discussing whether the tradition should continue.

Read more: https://www.denverpost.com/2020/03/07/democratic-party-caucuses-2020-senate/

[aeromanKC]

1. Caucuses suck

They just are not a true representative of who the whole prefer.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Especially unrepresentative in this case, I'd think

when it's just "this is who we want on the primary ballot". I imagine a lot of people think "I'll vote in June, but why bother turning up for a caucus now just to sort out what our ballot is?"

[iluvtennis]

16. + agree. nt

[Indykatie]

3. All Caucuses Need to Be Banned

They allow fringe candidates and others that don't have broad appeal within the party to win nominations. Romanoff will be roundly defeated if he runs for Senate. He may be the progressive favorite but that will not result in a statewide win. Hickenlooper had a good shot at winning.

[mrs_p]

6. From how I read it

Hickenlooper will still be on the primary ballot with 31% of the caucus vote. So he can still win?

Though, I agree with your comments on caucuses in general.

[JonLP24]

19. Colorado is more progressive than rest of the nation

Romanoff will be fine. They call Hickenlooper "Frackenlooper" in Colorado so he isn't very popular there.

[generalbetrayus]

21. "Frackenlooper" is one of the nicer names that rhyme with Hickenlooper

that he's called here in Colorado, although it is appropriate, given his bromance with the Colorado Oil & Gas Association. Romanoff is still going to need some big bucks to overcome Hick's support from centrist Dems in the DNC.

[Turin_C3PO]

22. Colorado is a pretty progressive state.

I think Romanoff can win.

[beachbumbob]

4. doesn't sound like good news to me as we need electable candidates in the general

[JonLP24]

20. This is Colorado we are talking about

One of the most progressive states in the nation.

[HarlanPepper]

23. It's great news for Gardner

Our Revolution candidates don't have a great track record.

[JonLP24]

24. Romanoff was Colorado Speaker of the House

He will do fine. The Third Way gets to lose and try the same strategy over and over again while progressives only get one shot at this. I don't recall Hillary Clinton winning the House or Senate much less the Presidency but I don't remember all this freak out about down ballot concerns. I think if Sanders was on a national ticket he would carry Colorado easily so no one should be freaking out about Romanoff.

[HarlanPepper]

25. Ah never mind

I had it mixed up. He does look like a great candidate.

[Cassidy]

5. Colorado voter here - Romanoff is the best for Colorado.

Romanoff is a Colorado favorite. He understands the urgency of health care for all Americans and he recognizes that climate change is endangering us all. I am old enough to remember when virtually all the trees in the Rocky Mountains were green and alive. Since it is no longer cold enough in the winter to kill the bark beetles, there are dead and dying trees in abundance. That is just one of the more obvious signs of the devastation descending upon us.

Hickenlooper made it very clear, month after month, that he does not want to be a Colorado Senator. He had to be talked into running by Senator Schumer, who clearly doesn't have Colorado's interests at heart.
Why would I hire a person for a job that he doesn't want? He'll just try to use us as a stepping stone to the Presidency, like Senator Bennet. Of course the gas and oil people are delighted to support Hickenlooper.

Polls indicate Gardner will lose to any Democrat by double digits.

Romanoff is the only candidate for Colorado Senator with experience as a legislator. He was Speaker of the House for many years. We need Senators and Representatives who will hit the ground running and immediately start to overturn the ruinous policies and actions of Trump and his minions.

Andrew Romanoff is the person that Colorado and our country needs in the Senate.

[moreland01]

8. 100% Agree

Romanoff is for the assault weapon ban. Agrees with doing away with the death penalty. Wants everyone to have healthcare. He's everything Hick is not; well, maybe except for "nice". They're both nice. But Romanoff has MY best interests at heart (as well as those around me). Hick would be fine with an oil rig in my backyard.

But they're both miles above Gardner.

[kentuck]

9. We have supported Andrew for years.

[turbinetree]

12. Yepper spot on....................

Most people do not understand for example your remarks about the bark beetle, they also do not understand that the tree lines are moving higher because of the weather like the pine trees are doing, and the bark beetle moves right along with the pine tree, they pine trees need year round cool weather, and because of that tree line movement going higher the weather is changing.............................and then there is this small creature...................the Rocky Mountain Pikas

https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/nature/pikas.htm

[Demsrule86]

27. I hope you are right...I fear Gardener may win and there goes our majority...no judges and

no policy.

[Jake Stern]

7. Just about anybody with a pulse would take down Gardner

That's a large part of why he's letting his Trumpy freak flag fly.

In a contest between Hickenlooper and Romanoff, I'd go with Romanoff by a mile. He's much closer to me politically.

Let's be honest: the senate race will be largely decided by the sapphire blue Front Range where 80% of the state's population resides so
ether are electable.

[Demsrule86]

28. I have hear this before...but I think Hickenlooper has the best chance...but I hope you are correct.

[DavidDvorkin]

10. This is delightful surprise.

[kag]

13. Not really.

I've been so frustrated with people on DU cheering Hickenlooper on. People here call him "Frackenlooper" because he takes so much oil and gas money. Coloradans know Romanoff, and understand how much better he will be as a Senator.

BTW, I will be a PROUD delegate for Romanoff at our county convention later this month.

[DavidDvorkin]

15. I assume you agree with me about it being delightful

Just not the surprise part.

I'm also a Coloradan, and I've supported Romanoff for years. Never liked Hickenlooper.

[kag]

17. Absolutely!

Sorry, I didn't mean to be so abrupt. I made phone calls for Andew (and probably will again), and believe me, you're not the only one who doesn't like Hickenlooper, so I wasn't that surprised that Romanoff did so well in the caucuses. Very pleased, but not surprised.

[CanonRay]

11. Andrew Romanoff is a terrific person

and will make a wonderful Senator. I met him 16 years ago, and still support him even though I no longer live in Colorado.

[kag]

14. Thank you!

I was a delegate for him in 2010 and will be this year as well. And have met him a few times.

Funny story: We're on Romanoff's "call list" because we always donate to his campaign. Not a ton of money, but enough that he has noticed. He once called, and we chatted for a while, then after we hung up he accidentally called again. My husband said, "Andrew Romanoff butt dialed you?" I almost spewed my coffee.

[CanonRay]

18. He called me when he started his run for Governor

and asked me for my support. I told him that he had permanently won my support years ago.

However, this situation put me in mind of when Mike Miles ran against Ken Salazar. I was Mike's county coordinator, and I was thrilled when he won the caucus, but the he lost the Primary. He would have made a much better Senator than Salazar.

[brokephibroke]

26. Don't forget Andrew beat Bennet in the last caucus

And Bennet won the primary. I’m confident Hick will win the primary.

What matter is we boot Cory “the coward” Gardner.