How Money and Latinos Are Factoring in the Democratic Senate Primary

Michael Bennet, who was appointed by Governor Bill Ritter as U.S. senator earlier this year, had a phenomenally successful night rubbing elbows with all the right people a few months back. In his case, the right people included powerful Democrats, like White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, at Chicago’s Ritz-Carlton. Bennet’s take for that evening last June was probably in the range of $200,000, according to The Denver Post, noting the bulk will be spent in Colorado by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on political ads and such. The fundraiser provides a glimpse into Democrats’ aspirations to maintain their majority in Washington. Of course, the money poured in before former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff announced his intention to challenge Bennet (pictured top), the former Denver Public Schools chief. But other factors will determine which Democrat will be chosen as the party’s official candidate in 2010. For instance, while Bennet and Romanoff have differing track records on immigration, Latino voters could hold Romanoff accountable for a 2006 state legislative session that produced several laws aimed at undocumented residents.

But Polly Bacca, the co-chair of the Colorado Latino Forum, doubts it. She’s actually predicting Romanoff will win the primary and be the state’s next senator, writes The Colorado Independent. Meanwhile, a Republican candidate seeking to oust Dems altogether, former Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton, began a three-day tour of the eastern part of the state yesterday, with a stop at Aims Corporate Center in Greeley, notes the Tribune.