Morgan Carroll

With Mike Coffman heavily favored to be elected to Congress this fall, speculation is rising about who would succeed him as Colorado Secretary of State.

As Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter would appoint Coffman’s successor, many Republicans fear Coffman’s departure would cause the GOP to lose yet another statewide office to the Democrats. Such feeling was exploited –unsuccessfully, as it turned out – by Coffman’s Republican primary opponents.

Carroll said so far she hasn’t seen any jockeying for the position among Democrats.

I haven’t heard on the Democratic side who is speaking for themselves saying ‘I want to run,’” Carroll said.

In a statement reminiscent of President George H.W. Bush's infamous "read my lips" pledge in 1988, John McCain told workers at an Aurora manufacturing company Wednesday that, "I want to look you in the eye - I will not raise your taxes nor support a tax increase."

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee spoke before about 300 workers at the Wagner Equipment Company, striking a theme of transcending partisan politics and dismissing presumptive Democratic opponent Barack Obama as "another politician in Washington who puts self-interest and political expediency ahead  of problem solving."

McCain's statement that he would not raise taxes came a day after the influential anti-tax group Club for Growth called for such a commitment from the senator from Arizona. The group said McCain had been offering "a mixed message" about where he stands on taxes.

Colorado Democrats, though, said Obama would lower taxes on the middle class and claimed McCain's economic plan would mostly benefit the wealthiest Americans. 

Senate Majority Leader Alice Madden (D-Boulder), Senate President Peter Groff (D-Denver) and 10 other Democratic legislators sent a letter to the CU Board of Regents today asking them to turn over information regarding "the particular circumstances surrounding" the selection of CU presidential finalist and longtime GOP activist Bruce Benson.

State Rep. Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) publicly announced Monday morning that she will take over for ousted state Rep. Michael Garcia (D-Aurora) as the Democratic candidate in Senate District 29, the Rocky Mountain News reported.

The domino effect has started for Democrats following the resignation of Assistant House Majority Leader Michael Garcia (D-Aurora) on Friday.

State Board of Education member Karen Middleton will likely be appointed Garcia's replacement for his 42nd District seat, said state Sen. Bob Hagedorn (D-Aurora). Middleton is already running to succeed the term-limited Garcia in the November elections.

Middleton confirmed she will vie for the vacancy appointment, which will be made by a vacancy committee on Feb. 10. Middleton said she had not heard of anyone else indicate interest in the vacancy appointment.