Jeff Bridges

The view from inside a campaign

Tomorrow people across the country will go to the polls and select the next cadre of leaders for our great nation. As a former campaign junkie — I’ve worked as Communications Director on two congressional and two gubernatorial races, as well as odd jobs on every election since 1998 — I thought I’d offer my insight into the final days of a campaign from a staffer’s perspective. We’re a rather neurotic group, so it ain’t pretty, but from my experience here’s what happens.

Wadhams lowers expectations

Colorado Republican Chairman Dick Wadhams has pre-emptively conceded both houses of the state Legislature to the Democrats in what looks like an effort to drastically lower expectations for Election Day Tuesday. Leading off a Thursday interview with Channel 4, Wadhams said of his party’s chances this year: “We’ve recruited some great candidates … and I’m very optimistic about our chances. I don’t believe we will win either house.” Instead he said the goal has always been to “win control in 2010.”

McCain and Palin play the blame game

A few days ago Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin went off script about her $150,000 shopping spree, much to the chagrin of John McCain’s staffers. Now, according to Roger Simon of the Politico, “John McCain’s campaign is looking for a scapegoat. It is looking for someone to blame if McCain loses on Tuesday. And it has decided on Sarah Palin.”

Nobel winners go for Obama, Joe the Plumber sticks with McCain

76 American Nobel Prize winners have endorsed Barack Obama for President. In an open letter, they praised Obama’s “emphasis during the campaign on the power of science and technology to enhance our nation’s competitiveness.” Meanwhile, John McCain has earned the endorsement of working class American “Joe the Plumber,” who is neither a licensed plumber nor named Joe (it’s Samuel Wurzelbacher for those who are wondering).

Results of lawsuits in CD4 delayed until after election

In what could be good news for at least one of the candidates in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, the results of dueling lawsuits filed by both campaigns against the other for lying in their TV spots will not come out until after Nov. 4, according to a story in Wednesday’s Loveland Reporter-Herald. “I’ve tried to not let the election date be a determining factor,” 8th Judicial District Attorney Larry Abrahamson said of the timing.

A battle for the soul of the GOP

Conservatives have planned a gathering in Virginia to take place shortly after the election to “begin a conversation about their role in the GOP and how best to revive a party that may be out of power at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue next year,” according to the Washington, D.C., publication The Politico. One unnamed invitee quoted in the story said that while the conservative movement itself remains strong, “there’s a sense that the Republican Party is broken.”

Throwdown: Obama crowd vs. McCain crowd

Democratic rallies or Republican rallies — it doesn’t matter. They all have protesters. How the crowd reacts to the protesters, though, seems to vary significantly. After watching a video of people waiting in line for McCain’s rally on Friday, I wanted to know if Obama’s crowd would react any differently. From what I saw and what I heard from Republican protesters downtown on Sunday, they certainly did.

Planning to vote? Read this first

Planning to take on your civic responsibility and vote this year? Good choice. But where should you go? What if something goes wrong at the polling booth? What the heck is Referendum O? And did you manage to get your new registration in on time? Answers to all of these questions, and more, can be found in this handy how-to guide on making your voice heard.

Read more of Jeff’s commentaries:
• A handicapped cabinet: Running a presidential slate is a bad idea
• Obama leaving campaign trail to visit ailing grandmother
• Is Colorado patriotic enough for Palin?

A handicapped cabinet: Running a presidential slate is a bad idea

The independent media/polling firm Rasmussen Reports recently decided, for whatever reason, to conduct a poll on whether people want presidential candidates to announce their cabinet choices before the election. While the idea of having a cabinet vetted by the voters may seem appealing, the reality of making those choices during the heat of a campaign has some serious drawbacks, both politically and in terms of effective governance after the election.

Read more of Jeff’s commentaries:
• Obama leaving campaign trail to visit ailing grandmother
• Is Colorado patriotic enough for Palin?
• CNN, Obama camp mislead on Palin robocall statement

Obama leaving campaign trail to visit ailing grandmother

Barack Obama’s campaign announced yesterday that he will leave the campaign trail on Thursday and Friday to visit his ailing grandmother in Hawaii. Candidates for President don’t just stop campaigning for two days with only two weeks left, so I can only assume her condition is very serious.

Read more of Jeff’s commentaries:
• Is Colorado patriotic enough for Palin?
• CNN, Obama camp misled on Palin robocall statement
• Exclusive: Eng cable ad dings Coffman