Close counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and US Senate races

Democrats are becoming increasingly concerned about the US Senate race in Colorado.

One need only look at polling numbers to see why.

Despite Republicans suffering from some really awful leadership both nationally and at the state-wide level for a few years, Udall and Schaffer are in a virtual tie thus far in the race to replace retiring Senator Wayne Allard.

“We’re being done in by the same thing that got Republicans,” says one Denver Democrat, “our leadership, at least nationally, is out of touch. When you look at the self-inflicted wounds the GOP has suffered for two years there’s no way we shouldn’t be up five or six points in the polls. But Pelosi has messed it up. They have had the opportunity to seize the middle, but haven’t done so.”

The Dems, he explains, have either had the wrong candidate with the right message, in the case of Hillary Clinton for example, or the right candidate with the wrong message, which may best describe Mark Udall.

“Mark’s as good of a candidate as anyone but he has a liberal voting record. Outside of the 1st Congressional and Boulder, it doesn’t help you much [in Colorado.]” 

Udall’s campaign has been trying unsuccessfully to get Schaffer to engage in the issues. At times they have implied that Schaffer is running scared. But so far Schaffer isn’t playing. Instead he’s been focused on raising money and refusing to debate Udall in the press.

“Schaffer’s got to be thrilled where he is. As long as he stays within striking distance, he can continue to raise money.”

On the bright side for Democrats in Colorado, the Denver Dem says, is that Democratic Governor Bill Ritter understands the mood of the state.

“He’ll hand out some goodies to the left, but count on him to stay firmly in the middle.”