Salazar, Ritter plan fundraisers this week

The Democrats' fundraising season is already beginning for Gov. Bill Ritter and U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Denver).

Salazar will be holding a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser on Friday at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Denver Post's Jessica Fender is reporting. Meanwhile, Ritter will be holding a fundraiser in Washington, D.C. later this week.

Ritter's campaign raised nearly $500,000 this year, and Salazar had $1.83 million on hand as of the close of the third quarter, according to records obtained by the Post.  Ritter's campaign was $200,000 in debt after his 2006 gubernatorial run after a campaign aide allegedly misspent campaign money. But Ritter strategist David Kenney told the Post that the governor's campaign is in the black after repaying campaign debts in August.

"We're looking forward to the 2010 campaign, and we're working hard to pull all the pieces together," Kenney said.

A Ritter spokesman did not return a call seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.