Posted on 01/02/2004 6:07:25 AM PST by Holly_P
WASHINGTON - As the new year dawns, the dynamics of the race for one of Colorado's U.S. Senate seats remain far from clear, with experts saying it's too soon to rule out a heated battle.
U.S. Rep. Mark Udall's decision to opt out of the race has turned the spotlight on former Sen. Gary Hart and two political newcomers who have officially filed, Brad Freedberg and Mike Miles, all Democrats.
Hart, who briefly considered running for president, has been urged by national Democrats to take on incumbent Republican Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell. But he deferred to Udall. Now, he has said he won't decide until sometime after New Year's Day.
But Colorado Democratic Party chairman Chris Gates said even if Hart doesn't run, at least three Democratic figures are looking at getting into the race: state Sen. Dan Grossman, D-Denver; University of Colorado Regent Jim Martin; and former Hart chief of staff and public relations executive Tom Hoog.
"I don't think the field is set on either side of the aisle," Gates said.
Gates said he continues to have doubts about whether Campbell will run, saying his campaigning and fundraising don't show a lot of enthusiasm.
"We continue to hear all this noise contemplating whether he really wants to run," Gates said. "He hasn't really been campaigning; he doesn't spend much time in the state. He's just not shown much enthusiasm for the political process."
Campbell has personally denied that, saying he is definitely running for re-election.
"For the new year, Chris Gates needs to get a new line, because Ben Campbell is campaigning aggressively across the state," said Campbell spokeswoman Cinamon Watson.
Campbell is a popular incumbent with a maverick image as a rancher-biker-Indian chief who doesn't play the Washington game.
"Campbell starts out with tremendous strengths out front, and it's hard to penetrate that," said Republican strategist Dick Wadhams, who ran Sen. Wayne Allard's 2002 re-election campaign. "He is immensely popular because he is a unique individual."
But he's also an aging incumbent who hasn't answered many lingering questions surrounding his bout with prostate cancer. His fundraising has also lagged. As of October he had less money than any other incumbent seeking re-election, save one.
In Allard's 2002 race against Democrat Tom Strickland, the candidates spent $10 million, and special interest groups kicked in at least $2 million more. But with Udall out, any other challenger is much farther behind in fundraising.
And critics say that despite his well-known maverick image, Campbell hasn't developed a reputation for getting things done in Washington.
"I like Ben. He's done a stellar job when he's attended," said Martin, the regent. "But he hasn't said what one more six-year term would mean in terms of leaving this country a better place."
Martin, who switched to the Democratic party from the Republican after being elected regent, said he's still talking to his family about whether to challenge Campbell. He says he has "the fire in the belly" to run and will decide by mid-January.
The other two mentioned by Gates - Grossman and Hoog - did not return phone calls.
Last week, the primary fight heated up between the two Democrats who are definitely running. Freedberg, a Denver lawyer, sent out a release attacking the experience of Miles, a Colorado Springs educator.
"I felt like it was important for me to set myself apart," Freedberg said.
Between the two, Miles seems to enjoy the most favor among party figures, drawing mention from Udall when he opted out last week. Miles dismissed Freedberg's criticism.
"He says he'll be able to convince independents, but he's failed to convince Democrats," Miles said of Freedberg.
Old enough for that paper to be able to hint at....senility.
Remember Reagan?
*sigh*
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