Legal Commentary

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Won't Seek Re-Election

By Jeralyn

Update: My speculation as to reason: He liked being DA better than being Governor. Maybe Obama will announce he's going to be Colorado's U.S. Attorney. Until we hear tomorrow, I think it's as possible as any other reason being floated.

This is a shocker. Flashing across my tv screen, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter won't seek re-election. He hasn't given a reason. He will make the announcement in the morning at an 11 a.m. press conference. From Political Wire:

A fundraiser scheduled for tonight was canceled and all campaign staff was sent home in the middle of the day. The decision does not appear to be fundraising related which has reportedly gone better than expected.

I think the Dems will keep the Governor's mansion. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper would be unbeatable in my view, and other replacement names being mentioned are Interior Secretary (and former Senator and Colorado Attorney General) Ken Salazar and Rep. Ed Perlmutter. Any one of them would beat former Rep. Scott McInnis, the Republican candidate, in my view.

I hope it's Hickenlooper. I'm as tired of Salazar as I am McInnis and he's no progressive as he showed in the Senate, time and again. I like Perlmutter a lot, but I think it would be a closer race with him as the Democratic candidate than it would be with Hickenlooper.

As to Ritter's real reason, I like him a lot so I'm not going to speculate. I'm sure others will.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on January 06, 2010 (boomark / email).