Bush dynasty weighs in on Colorado budget reform

The latest crusader against Colorado budget reform bill SB 228, which passed out of the Senate yesterday on a party-line vote, is none other than Walker Stapleton, who is reportedly angling to become state treasurer in 2010 and who is also George W. Bush’s first cousin once removed — although Stapleton makes no mention of that fact on Keep the Cap Colorado, the new anti-SB 228 Web site he launched Tuesday.

If you didn’t recognize the Bush family connection straightaway, don’t feel bad, because you would have figured it out soon enough — because it’s impossible not to. You would have recognized the know-nothing audacity and privileged sense of political entitlement.

Markey scores kudos from GOP business group, Dem operatives alike

Republicans looking to challenge freshman Rep. Betsy Markey got a double dose of bad news Monday. The CD 4 congresswoman was named to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Frontline Program to hyper-boost her re-election bid on the same day the Dem got a rare head nod from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the pro-business group joined at the hip to the GOP.

Republicans blast Salazar, Markey with radio ads on stimulus vote

The National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) is finally putting its money where its mouth has been. A round of radio ads targeting 30 Democrats in conservative or swing districts began airing Friday — among the targets were freshman Rep. Betsy Markey and third-term Rep. John Salazar of Colorado — who plan to vote in favor of the $790 billion economic stimulus package.

Former PolitickerCO reporter parses Markey opponents in new daily blog

Former PolitickerCO.com reporter Jeremy Pelzer — whose daily postings on the now-defunct site were must-reads for Colorado’s politically attuned — lands this week at Elevated Voices, 5280′s everything-to-know-about-Denver blog. Monday’s posting examines potential challengers to Rep. Betsy Markey, who unseated three-term Republican Marilyn Musgrave and became the first Democrat to represent the sprawling 4th Congressional District in more than three decades.

Stateline pegs 2010 gubernatorial race as ‘worth watching’

The political Web site, Stateline.com, predicts the likelihood of a Republican renaissance in governors’ mansions across the nation as the next big opportunity for voters to punish politicians for a tanking economy and crumbling quality of life.

But Colorado Republican Party chairman Dick Wadhams shouldn’t break out the noisemakers or “Boulder liberal” epithets just yet.

Poll: Bennet would beat Tancredo, lose to Owens, but is largely unknown

Colorado’s junior senator, Michael Bennet, is viewed more favorably than not among voters who know him but is still a mystery to nearly half of those contacted by Public Policy Polling (PPP) in a survey released Tuesday. The Democrat beat three potential GOP opponents in hypothetical 2010 match-ups — he bested former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo 48-39, and scored six-point leads over state Attorney General John Suthers and former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis, though both said Monday they weren’t interested in the race — and polled three points behind former Gov. Bill Owens, who hasn’t indicated any interest in running for the Senate.

Hasan may run for state treasurer in 2010

Ali Hasan won’t take no for answer when it comes to the mountain monorail. The Beaver Creek Republican who won Eagle County but lost Lake and Summit counties and therefore his really expensive bid for the state legislature, ran on a platform of promising a monorail in every pot.

That mass transit solution to I-70 weekend gridlock resonated with some voters, but clearly not enough, so Hasan now says he may do an end-run around the legislative approach and run for state treasurer in 2010 — an office where he could show the feasibility of his financial formula for mountain mass transit. He also wants to see a similar train along the I-25 corridor.

Judd files for 2010 state Senate run

State Rep. Joel Judd has filed papers to run for Senate District 34 in 2010. The northwest Denver Democrat was just sworn in for his fourth term representing House District 5 and wants to take over for veteran state…

Bennet launches campaign site, says he intends ‘to win re-election’ in 2010

Simultaneous with his nomination to become Colorado’s newest senator, Michael Bennet unveiled BennetforColorado.com, a campaign Web site aimed at winning re-election to to the seat in 2010. The rudimentary site, labelled “under construction,” includes a sign-up form for updates and a biography of the Denver Democrat, who is currently superintendent for Denver Public Schools, as well as a fresh endorsement from President-elect Barack Obama, who called Bennet “a breath of fresh air in Washington.”

First candidate emerges to replace term-limited Carroll in HD-7

The race is on.

Denver native Mark Mehringer told The Colorado Independent today that he will officially throw his hat in the ring next month to succeed longtime, but term-limited, state Rep. Terrance Carroll (D-Denver) in House District 7. Carroll will become speaker of the Colorado House next month when the 2009 legislative session convenes Jan. 7.