Research Briefing

Obama’s Visit To Colorado Today Is The Least He Could Do, Considering He’s The Reason Michael Bennet Is In Trouble

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “I Know It's An Election Year.  …[I]t's Clear That Campaign Fever Has Come Even Earlier Than Usual.  But We Still Need To Govern.” (President Barack Obama, State Of The Union Address, Washington, DC, 1/27/10)

LATEST STOP ON OBAMA’S PERPETUAL CAMPAIGN IS DENVER, CO

Obama Will Appear At Campaign Fundraiser Today For Sen. Michael Bennet. “Obama travels to Denver tomorrow to headline a fundraiser for Sen. Michael Bennet, who was appointed to the Colorado Senate seat vacated by Ken Salazar, when he became the president's Interior secretary. Obama then heads Friday to Las Vegas, to campaign with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and raise money for the Democratic National Committee. Bennet is running in November for a full term. The non-partisan Cook Political Report rates the Colorado Senate race as a tossup.” (Catalina Camia, “Dem Campaign Chief Says Obama Will Be 'Active, Aggressive' In Senate Races,” USA Today’s The Oval Blog, 2/17/10)

Despite Warnings From Dem Strategist That “Handshake” At Fundraiser Now, Could Cost Bennet “Election Later.” “Even Democratic strategists say a visit by the president - whose poll numbers have plummeted since taking office - carries risks for his fellow Democrats. ‘It's definitely a gamble,’ said Democratic strategist Liz Chadderdon. ‘A handshake that raises $1 million now could cost them the election later.’” (Joseph Curl, “Sens. Seek Obama Boost On Campaign Trail,” The Washington Times, 2/16/10)

• Obama May Still Be Popular With Liberal Base, But May Be “Albatross” In General Election. “The president's appearance likely will help Mr. Bennet survive the Democratic primary because he ‘is still very popular with base voters,’ said Ms. Chadderdon. ‘But will Obama's numbers have rebounded enough in the general [election] not to be an albatross?’” (Joseph Curl, “Sens. Seek Obama Boost On Campaign Trail,” The Washington Times, 2/16/10)

OBAMA HAS TO GO BECAUSE BENNET IS IN TROUBLE

Bennet “Faces An Uphill Slog For Re-Election.” “Bennet, an appointed senator picked by an unpopular lame-duck governor, faces an uphill slog for re-election. First, he has to defeat a Democrat who has been Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives. If he wins the primary, he faces former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, who has more name ID than the one-year incumbent. Colorado is a swing state, but Bennet will have to prove a fast learner to hold the seat surrendered by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.” (Richard Dunham, “The List: The Ten Most Vulnerable Seats In The U.S. Senate,” Albany Times Union, 2/15/10)

• Obama’s Endorsement “Didn’t Scare Off” Primary Challenge To Bennet. “Colorado Sen. Bennet was appointed to the seat to replace Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Obama came out early for the nonelected incumbent who has never run statewide. But that didn't scare off Andrew Romanoff, a Denver lawyer and former speaker of the state House who tells people he's the homegrown candidate — not a White House-favorite.” (“Primary Time: Let The Political Family Feuds Begin,” The Associated Press, 1/30/10)

BUT OBAMA IS THE REASON BENNET IS IN TROUBLE

Obama’s Binge Spending Agenda Has “Raised Questions” Among Independent Voters In Colorado. “Today, Coloradans appear more downbeat. Anxiety has replaced optimism. The recession has changed habits and attitudes. Obama's agenda has raised questions among independent voters because of its ambitious scope and potential impact on the deficit.” (Dan Balz, “For Obama and Democrats, Colorado Becomes Less Welcoming,” The Washington Post, 9/6/09)

• Senator Michael Bennett (D-CO) Voted For Obama’s Failed $862 Billion Stimulus Bill. (H.R. 1, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Vote Number 64, Passed 60:38, R: 3-38, D: 57-0, 2/13/09)

The Denver Post Expressed Skepticism About Congress Passing Stimulus II, When Stimulus I Has Not Worked. “American taxpayers, as well as their grandchildren, already are on the hook for well over a trillion dollars in recent government spending that was meant to stimulate the economy.  So forgive us for being a bit skeptical as President Obama and top Democrats in Congress think about cranking up yet another round of spending to stimulate the creation of jobs.” (Editorial, “Tap Breaks On Second Stimulus,” The Denver Post, 11/30/09)

The Denver Post Said Taxpayers “Should Be Given A Reasonable Plan For Eventually Trimming The Federal Debt” Which Is Becoming “Unsustainable.” “It is imperative that American taxpayers get some clear answers and strong evidence that a new government bailout/stimulus plan will work before we're asked to foot more debt. Taxpayers also should be given a reasonable plan for eventually trimming the federal debt, which is swiftly becoming unsustainable.” (Editorial, “Tap Breaks On Second Stimulus,” The Denver Post, 11/30/09)

Colorado Job Creation From Stimulus Was Overstated. “Click on the computerized map of the state of Colorado on the federal government's stimulus-spending Web page, and it displays 8,094 full-time jobs created or saved in the state. It's a number that is inflated by at least 1,000 jobs…” (Burt Hubbard, “Stimulus-jobs Count In Colorado Overinflated,” The Denver Post, 11/10/09)

Coloradoans Skeptical About Obama’s Government-Run Health Care Bill. “Mr. Seyfer’s disappointment was echoed in dozens of interviews here and in Fort Collins, Colo. People from both sides of the political spectrum — and apolitical consumers — said they were deeply skeptical about the health care bill being put together by Congress and the White House.” (Robert Pear, “In Colorado, Craving Reform Of Health Care And Congress,” The New York Times, 1/10/10)