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Udall not running for Guv
Colorado, Governors, Senators

Udall_1
Rep. Mark Udall of Colorado will not be
running for governor in 2006. Rather, he's holding out for Wayne Allard's Senate seat in 2008.


Political consultants said while it seems early to announce for the 2008 race, it makes sense for Udall to stake his claim.

"Udall made it quite clear that he would have run" last year, pollster Floyd Ciruli said.

Ciruli and GOP consultant Katy Atkinson said Udall was considered the leading Democratic contender for governor. They said the House seat is a good launching pad for a Senate campaign.

"The fund-raising advantage of coming out of Congress is just huge," Atkinson said.

A possible challenge, however, is the fact that Udall represents a district anchored by Boulder County, a liberal stronghold. Tim Wirth was the last Democrat from the county to win a statewide race when he won the 1986 Senate race after serving 12 years in the House.

On the surface this is a strange decision because an open seat (Bill Owens won't be running in 2006) is an easier race than one against an incumbent. But, Udall probably knows something I don't, like Allard might run for governor and Udall would only have to face a unelected incumbent for Senate in 2008. Here is a list of other possible candidates for the Guv mansion in Colorado.

Here also is Udall's statement.

Emmett O'Connell | March 3, 2005 | Comment on This Post (2 so far)
Permalink: Udall not running for Guv
Colorado, Governors, Senators

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Comments

Ack! Please don't assume Allard would win if he ran for governor. He hasn't shown he can beat anyone not named Tom Strickland.

Posted by: Colorado Luis | Mar 3, 2005 8:02:57 PM

According to the Denver Post, Allard committed to a personal term limit when he was first elected.

Also, the alternatives to Udall:

Udall's announcement emboldens former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter and venture capitalist Rutt Bridges, both of whom have expressed interest in the job but lack Udall's name recognition and party ties.

Some in the party have urged state Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald to run for governor. And many Democratic brass are leaning heavily on Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper to consider the seat.

Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Mar 4, 2005 5:50:01 AM

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(and yes, we know that sometimes they're very, very wrong. Other times, they're right on.)

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