2010 Colorado U.S. Senate Race is a Hot One in a Newly Democrat-controlled State

Colorado is continuing its new key role in national politics with a U.S. Senate race that reflects the divisions in Washington. With so many uncertainties about the 2010 elections and their effect on President Obama's agenda, interest in Colorado's Senate race and the insights it might reveal about voter sentiment nationwide is going to be high.

Appointed Democratic incumbent Michael Bennet in a number of ways represents the Obama administration through his connections and philosophies. He has, in his role finishing the term of now Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, been focusing on congressional reform. He is also pushing President Obama to address immigration reform, the only candidate with considerable visibility at the large May 1 Immigration Reform rally in Denver.

In addition, Bennet has been pushing local industries that tie in with national interests on the President's agenda such as renewable energy. An early voice in support of Barack Obama's run for the presidency, many Coloradans expected his leadership in the Denver Public Schools to translate to a nomination for Secretary of Education in President Obama's cabinet.

Andrew Romanoff, his primary opponent and former Speaker of the Colorado House, can be seen as aligned with the legislature. Like Bennet, he is taking on the mantle of reformer according to the Denver Post, but has gained the support of two major unions and many legislators in Colorado, according to the Huffington Post.

Lead Republican candidate and former Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton is making a strong showing among Republican senatorial candidates as well as against the leading Democratic candidates, according to Rassmussen and others, but the lead is narrowing. At this time her role in the race is most of all as the candidate which the Democratic primary winner will likely have to beat.

As a reflection of the national climate, Colorado's Tea Party, Libertarian Party, those aligned with 2008 Presidential Candidate and Senator Ron Paul's constitution-based view of government, and others will play various roles in the 2010 election. National figures such as Senator Paul and Ralph Nader spoke in Denver during the 2008 presidential election. Though the press and two major parties have tended to stick to "Red versus Blue" contests in national politics, other parties have been a thorn in the side of mainstream politics both through the issues they raise and their attraction of disgruntled voters to their cause.

The last Senate race in Colorado, 2008's Republican Bob Schaffer versus Democrat Mark Udall, reflected the teamwork of a growing Democratic contingent from Colorado as Udall won a tough race. At a multi-candidate, multi-race debate hosted by a local temple, it was clear that the Democratic candidates were assuming the "high ground," not only in answer to the moderator's questions, but also, as in the case of ranking House Democrat Rep. Diana DeGette, proudly and spontaneously announcing support of controversial issues such as stem cell research.

Paralleling my home state of Massachusetts, where the senate seats were presumed Democratic property, Colorado has reached the point where the Democrats are in control, and many seats are theirs to lose. As the Mayor of Denver is hoping to cross the street from City Hall to the State House as the next Democratic Governor, the Democrats hope to keep their new lock on Colorado's seats in the Senate. Just as Republican Scott Brown shocked the nation when he beat the presumed next Democratic Senator in Massachusetts, an upset here in Colorado is likely to cause much rethinking of how solid the Democratic base is here, and whether any rejection can be read wider as a reflection of the public's opinion about congressional Democrats or the Obama administration.

For myself and many others throughout the state, the current trend towards a single party mostly reflects the heavily Democrat voter base in the populous metro Denver area. In Massachusetts the single-party dominance meant that, for a long time, votes other than Democrat seemed somewhat meaningless, both in the general election and the primary. I am hoping that, while the best candidates for the job are elected as much as possible, Colorado will learn from Massachusetts' evolution and keep some diversity in our representation and political thought, even at the price of some political influence, the inequalities of which legislative reform should eventually address.

If the politicians tend to agree on everything with each other, naturally or through dealmaking, they probably aren't well representing their constituencies' diverse views.

To watch in the months to come: not only the big events such as Vice President Biden's recent fundraising visit, but local activities. With the Tea Party and others have come dozens of local meetings, talks, discussion groups and other grassroots activity amongst the voters. This is the same kind of grassroots activity which swept President Obama to power, albeit with not nearly as much energy - yet.

This new, or newly visible movement is becoming more sophisticated in its use of social media such as Twitter and Facebook and other web technologies, in producing its own media coverage of events as an alternative to "mainstream" coverage, and in statewide grassroots organization. This may be yet another race in which the Tea Party wildcard and other uncontrolled factors play a significant role. The Democrats may continue a lock on key roles in the state, but as we have seen in Massachusetts, there can be plenty of surprises as well.

Jessica Fowler, Romanoff refocusing on Colorado Senate race, The Denver Post

Wade Norris, Colorado Senate Race - The First Big Endorsements, The Huffington Post

Bruce Drake, GOP Candidates Maintain Edge in Colorado Senate Race, Politics Daily

Rassmussen Reports, Election 2010: Colorado Senate

United States Senate election in Colorado, 2010, Wikipedia