GOP turns to Schaffer to save Senate seat (Colorado Senate Seat)

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | March 16, 2004 | Valerie Richardson

[DM1]

DENVER -- Bob Schaffer, a former three-term congressman, has emerged as the last Republican standing after a half-dozen of his better-known colleagues declined to enter the Senate contest to replace retiring Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

Mr. Schaffer formally announced his candidacy yesterday, giving him instant David status against the Democratic Party's Goliath, state Attorney General Ken Salazar, a fifth-generation Coloradan who has won statewide office twice and is widely regarded as the candidate to beat.

[DM1]

Any thoughts? Will this guy hold the Seat for Repubs or is this a Dem pickup

[KQQL]

If he's the nominee, then he will run against Ken Salazar who is:

Pro-choice...
Pro-Affirmative action.
Pro-AWB

Anti-ANWR

and Probably for Kerry Tax Cuts ,etc

[KQQL]

@

[KQQL]

ONot running:
OWENS didn't run because of Bubba type problems.
McInnis wants $$$
Tom T..couldn't win
Bob.B could have won, but GOP would have lost C07
Coffman , he wants to be the CO next GOV.
Jane Norton...has never run alone before, now will this time

Shaffer ..........is running

and Gale Norton might run

[DM1]

yes but not being from Colorado i am not sure how solid GOP suppor is there and worry that we may not only not pick up any seats in the Senate but actually lose the majority

[KQQL]

It's a toss up race now.

GOP makes up approx 38% of the electorate, rats approx 30% and the rest are Indpt in CO...from my memory

[KQQL]

IF Allard could win by 4-5% ..then I am sure f Shaffer runs a good campaign... he can win narrowly too...

[KQQL]

IF Allard could win by 4-5% ..then I am sure if Shaffer runs a good campaign... he can win narrowly too...

[digerati]

I believe the results of a Schaffer/Salazar contest will much closer than 4-5%. Salazar has state-wide appeal as evidenced by his election to the attorney general position. Salazar is also more moderate than Allard's opponent, Tom Strickland was. Strickland was a Clinton butt-boy and had sleaze and liberal written all over him.

It is going to be a tough contest in Colorado.

[KQQL]

Who ever wins in CO will be at least be by 4%.....and either way it wouldn't be closer than that.

Salazar is perceived to be Moderate , because his tough stand on Crime......other than that......Salazar has similar views as Strickland.

Pro-Choice.
For Gun Restrictions.( For AWB , etc
Anti-ANWR
Pro affirmative action.
And probably for Kerry's tax hikes.

----

CO: 1,039,162 registered Republicans, 849,705 Democrats and 898,938 unaffiliated voters in Colorado.

= Toss up .................... I wonder how GALE Norton would do VS Salazar...she was CO AG and is pro-choice too

[FRgal4u]

Yea, I thought Gale Norton could be a nice pick, but boy, looks like the Senate pcikup hopes maybe a but kess than expected here..

I think the R can pickup in SC, NC, GA with outside chances in FL and LA..I am not counting on wins in SD or NV.

but I think the D will pickup in IL, AK? with both OK and CO in play.

The situation in OK and Co sure bumps me out..

[KQQL]

Senate races :

Toss ups seats are:

OK,AK,CO,NC,FL,LA

Lean GOP are SC,GA

Lean RAt are IL,SD

If Tom Coburn is the GOP nominee, then the seat slightly leans GOP and if Mel is the GOP nominee in FL , it slightly leans GOP too.


.............
Other races are not close as of now.

[Clintonfatigued]

I'm worried about this race. I was hoping that state Treasurer Mike Coffman would run. In a Ken Salazar/Bob Schaffer race, Salazar starts out with the edge. Of course, that could change.

[Mike04]

You're right- Coburn would be a stronger nominee in Oklahoma. In fact, he has a lot in common with Schaffer in Colorado- both effective, conservative, citizen-legislators that kept their term limit pledges.

Both Schaffer and Coburn's websites have gone lives, check them out at:

www.schafferforsenate.com
www.coburnforsenate.com

And profiles on www.aurepublicans.blogspot.com