CO-GOV

Dem Hickenlooper Wins The Colorado Gubernatorial Race After All

Eric Lach | November 2, 2010, 10:26PM

John Hickenlooper

Democrat John Hickenlooper has won the Colorado gubernatorial race, successfully overcoming a late charge by American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo.

With 324 of 3,246 precincts reporting, Hickenlooper (55.94%) leads Tancredo (35.27%) and Republican Dan Maes (8.79%). MSNBC and FOX have called the race for Hickenlooper.

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CO-GOV

Palin Gives Tancredo Last-Minute Endorsement In CO-GOV

Eric Lach | November 1, 2010, 6:08PM

Sarah Palin and Tom Tancredo

Sarah Palin is swooping in to the Colorado gubernatorial race with a last minute endorsement for American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo.

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CO-GOV

Fox News Poll: Tancredo Down Just 3 Points In CO-GOV

Eric Lach | November 1, 2010, 12:15PM

CO Gov. candidates John Hickenlooper (D), Dan Maes (R) and Tom Tancredo (Constitution).

A new Fox News poll of the Colorado gubernatorial race shows Democrat John Hickenlooper leading third-party candidate Tom Tancredo by just three points. Republican Dan Maes came in at 6%.

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CO-GOV

PPP Poll: Dem Hickenlooper Up 5 Points In CO-GOV

Eric Lach | November 1, 2010, 11:03AM

CO Gov. candidates John Hickenlooper (D), Dan Maes (R) and Tom Tancredo (Constitution).

A new PPP poll of the Colorado gubernatorial race shows Democrat John Hickenlooper ahead of third-party candidate Tom Tancredo by five points, 48%-43%. Republican Dan Maes is a distant third at 8%.

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2010 elections

Marist Poll: GOPer Buck, Dem Hickenlooper Lead In Colorado Senate And Gov. Races

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2010, 1:14PM

Candidate for U.S. Senate Ken Buck (R-CO)

The new Marist poll of Colorado gives Republican Ken Buck a narrow lead in the Senate race against appointed Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet. Meanwhile, Democrat John Hickenlooper continues to lead American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in the gubernatorial race, aided by vote-splitting from the beleaguered spoiler Republican nominee Dan Maes.

In the Senate race: Buck 49%, Bennet 45%. In the previous Marist poll from a month ago, Buck led by a stronger margin of 50%-42%. The TPM Poll Average for the Senate race gives Buck 48.0%, Bennet 45.5%.

In the gubernatorial race: Hickenlooper 47%, Tancredo 42%, Maes 5%. In the previous Marist poll from a month ago, Hickenlooper had 48%, Tancredo 29%, and Maes 19%. The TPM Poll Average for the gubernatorial race gives Hickenlooper 47.1%, Tancredo 42.1%, and Maes 6.9%.

The survey of likely voters has a ±4% margin of error.

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CO-GOV

Maes' Few Remaining Supporters Tell Him: 'Miracles Can Happen'

Eric Lach | October 29, 2010, 8:33AM

Dan Maes (R), candidate for Colorado governor

"Miracles can happen."

Those were the words of encouragement offered to Colorado Republican nominee Dan Maes by some of his few remaining supporters at a small event earlier this week, according to The Denver Post.

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CO-GOV

Dan Maes Disaster Could Leave The Colorado GOP A Minor Party

Eric Lach | October 25, 2010, 8:39AM

Dan Maes (R), candidate for Colorado governor

Colorado Republican gubernatorial nominee Dan Maes' disaster of a 2010 campaign could turn into a four-year embarrassment for state Republicans. It's been one blunder after another for Maes since he barely won the August 10 primary over former Rep. Scott McInnis, whose campaign was done in by a plagiarism scandal. But if Maes fails to get 10 percent of the vote on election day, his legacy won't be the U.N. bike plot warning or the tall tale of working undercover as a cop in Kansas. It will be leaving Republicans with minor party status in Colorado until 2014.

After weeks of declines in the polls, the TPM Poll Average now shows Maes coming in at 9.3%.

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CO-GOV

CO-GOV GOPer's Family Is His 2nd-Highest Campaign Expense

Eric Lach | October 22, 2010, 1:43PM

Colorado Republican gubernatorial nominee Dan Maes.

If Colorado Republican gubernatorial nominee Dan Maes didn't exist, Colorado Democrats would have to invent him. The latest news about this busted campaign is that the Maes family figures as the campaign's second-biggest expense.

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CO-SEN

Fox News Polls: GOPer Buck Up 1 In CO-SEN, Dem Hickenlooper Up 5 In CO-GOV

Eric Lach | October 19, 2010, 11:57AM

Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate race in Colorado Ken Buck and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

Fox News polls of the Colorado Senate and gubernatorial races released today show both races tightening as the election approaches.

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CO-GOV

Rasmussen Poll: Hickenlooper Leading Tancredo By 4 Points In CO-GOV

Eric Lach | October 15, 2010, 3:50PM

CO Gov. candidates John Hickenlooper (D), Dan Maes (R) and Tom Tancredo (Constitution).

A new Rasmussen poll of the Colorado gubernatorial race shows third-party candidate Tom Tancredo within four points of Democrat John Hickenlooper. Republican Dan Maes is a distant third.

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CO-GOV

Tancredo Turns Attention To The Front-Runner Hickenlooper In CO-GOV

Eric Lach | October 11, 2010, 12:22PM

John Hickenlooper and Tom Tancredo

When Tom Tancredo first entered the Colorado gubernatorial race, it was seen as a obstructive act of defiance. Early polls showed him in third place, far behind the front-runner, Democrat John Hickenlooper, and ruining any electoral chance for Republican nominee Dan Maes (whose dysfunctional candidacy is in part what spurred Tancredo's run).

But since then, Maes' campaign has crumbled even further, while Tancredo has been raising money, rising in the polls and gaining endorsements. In the process, he's switched his focus from bashing Maes to attacking Hickenlooper. And though he still trails Hickenlooper by a bunch, the message is clear: Tancredo is playing to win.

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CO-GOV

PPP Poll: Dem Hickenlooper Leads Tancredo By 14 In CO-GOV Race

Marc Kilstein | October 7, 2010, 2:45PM

CO Gov. candidates John Hickenlooper (D), Dan Maes (R) and Tom Tancredo (Constitution).

According to a new PPP poll of the Colorado gubernatorial race, things are looking good for Democrat John Hickenlooper... and really, really bad for Republican Dan Maes.

The survey shows Hickenlooper with a comfortable lead, ahead of third-party candidate Tom Tancredo by 14 points and up a seemingly insurmountable 34 points on Maes. Through the last month, Tancredo has steadily increased his polling numbers, while Maes has fallen into a downward spiral. When PPP looked at the race in early August, Maes was on top of Tancredo-- through Hickenlooper still led big with 48%, to Maes's 23% and Tancredo's 22%.

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CO-GOV

Rasmussen Poll: Hickenlooper Leads Tancredo By 8 In CO-GOV

Eric Lach | October 4, 2010, 2:31PM

CO Gov. candidates John Hickenlooper (D), Dan Maes (R) and Tom Tancredo (Constitution).

A new Rasmussen poll of the Colorado gubernatorial race shows third-party candidate Tom Tancredo within eight points of Democrat John Hickenlooper, with Republican Dan Maes far behind.

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CO-GOV

Polls: Buck Leading, Hickenlooper Cruising In Colorado

Eric Lach | October 4, 2010, 11:33AM

Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate race in Colorado Ken Buck and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

A number of new polls in Colorado show Republican Ken Buck ahead in the Senate race, and Democrat John Hickenlooper maintaining his big lead in the three-way gubernatorial contest.

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CO-GOV

Fox News Poll: Hickenlooper Stills Leads CO-GOV, As Maes Loses More Support To Tancredo

Eric Kleefeld | September 28, 2010, 11:31AM

CO Gov. candidates John Hickenlooper (D), Dan Maes (R) and Tom Tancredo (Constitution).

The new Fox News poll of the Colorado gubernatorial race shows Democratic Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper continuing to lead the race, thanks to a split conservative vote between the gaffe-prone Republican nominee Dan Maes and Constitution Party nominee Tom Tancredo, a former Republican Congressman. Furthermore, Tancredo has for the moment definitely overtaken Maes as the alternative to the Dem.

The numbers: Hickenlooper 44%, Tancredo 34%, and Maes at only 15%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3% margin of error. There is no previous Fox News poll of this race. However, this poll was conducted through a Rasmussen offshoot, Pulse Opinion Research, which performs made-to-order robopolls. In the previous Rasmussen poll from two and a half weeks ago, Hickenlooper had 46%, Tancredo 25%, and Maes 21%.

The poll also found that Hickenlooper would lead Maes in a two-way race by a margin of 51%-37%. There was no question done for a two-way race of Hickenlooper and Tancredo -- a question that could become quite relevant if Maes continues to lose support.

The TPM Poll Average gives Hickenlooper 45.9%, Tancredo 32.0%, and Maes 16.8%.

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CO-GOV

Lonely, Broke And Dead Last: Dan Maes' Sad Colorado Story

Eric Lach | September 24, 2010, 11:20AM

Dan Maes (R), candidate for Colorado governor

Colorado Republican gubernatorial nominee Dan Maes' campaign has finally fallen off the cliff it had been heading toward for weeks.

We've detailed Maes' numerous troubles before. (And. Boy. Has. He. Had. Troubles.) Maes' isn't just dealing with scandals or gaffes like some other inexperienced politicians this year. He's been abandoned by political allies, trails badly in the polls and is chronically short of funds. The calls for him to drop out are coming from all sides. Desperately lacking a clear strategy, he recently sank to simply calling one of his opponents, renowned nativist Tom Tancredo, an "illegal immigrant." All this with more than a month still to go before election day.

And while Tancredo's third-party run may be what definitively ruined Republicans' chances in the race, Maes is still the one carrying the GOP banner, waving it futilely as his campaign nosedives.

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CO-GOV

CNN/Time Poll: Hickenlooper Still Leads -- But Tancredo Ahead Of Maes In CO-GOV

Eric Lach | September 22, 2010, 5:40PM

CO Gov. candidates John Hickenlooper (D), Dan Maes (R) and Tom Tancredo (Constitution).

A new CNN/Time poll of the Colorado gubernatorial race shows Democrat John Hickenlooper with a big lead, and Republican Dan Maes trailing third-party candidate Tom Tancredo by eight points.

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CO-GOV

Lonely Republican CO-GOV Nominee Dan Maes Raised Only $14K In September

Eric Lach | September 21, 2010, 4:26PM

Dan Maes (R), candidate for Colorado governor

Colorado Republican gubernatorial nominee Dan Maes was already nearly out of friends. Now he's almost out of funds.

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CO-GOV

Rasmussen Poll: Tancredo Gains Ground -- But Hickenlooper Still Leads Big In CO-GOV

Eric Lach | September 14, 2010, 10:37AM

CO Gov. candidates John Hickenlooper (D), Dan Maes (R) and Tom Tancredo (Constitution).

A new Rasmussen poll of the Colorado gubernatorial race shows Democrat John Hickenlooper maintaining his comfortable lead, Tom Tancredo surging, and support for Republican nominee Dan Maes continuing to erode.

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CO-GOV

Buck And Bennet In First Debate: He's The Flip-Flopper!

Eric Lach | September 13, 2010, 11:37AM

Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate race in Colorado Ken Buck and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

In their first debate, incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Republican nominee Ken Buck fought over flip-flops, boots and shoes.

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CO-GOV

Flying Solo: Everyone Abandons Dan Maes After Mistake-Riddled Campaign

Eric Kleefeld | September 10, 2010, 8:47AM

Dan Maes (R), candidate for Colorado governor

Things are not going well for Dan Maes in Colorado. After a series of highly-publicized miscues over the last few months -- and a third-party bid from ex-Rep. Tom Tancredo -- Maes' supporters are now leaving him in droves. The result? In a cycle where the GOP ought to be making strong gains all over the map, the party seems to be waving the white flag in the Colorado gubernatorial race -- where they should have had a great shot of winning.

Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter is retiring after one term, which saw him accrue negative ratings. The Dems are now running Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper -- and the Republicans no longer seem to be sure who they're running, even after the primary.

The trouble started with the two candidates in the GOP primary. Former Rep. Scott McInnis was caught in a plagiarism scandal, and Maes, the tea party-backed candidate who touted his business acumen on the trail, turned out to not exactly be a successful businessman. He was delinquent in filing required state paperwork, was late in making payments to his homeowners association, and had a lien placed on his house. Maes also made some interesting policy pronouncements, such as alleging that Hickenlooper's support for bike paths as mayor was part of a United Nations plot to destroy America's sovereignty. On the policy end, Maes proposed that he would lay off 2,000 state employees "just like that."

Then Tancredo threatened to get in as a third-party candidate if McInnis and Maes didn't drop out -- clearly as a potential threat to be a spoiler candidate -- and Tancredo later made good on his threat -- essentially splitting the conservative vote and all but handing the race to the Dem Hickenlooper.

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CO-GOV

RGA Chairman Signals Republicans Giving Up On Maes In Colorado

Christina Bellantoni | September 8, 2010, 11:16AM

Dan Maes, Republican candidate for governor in Colorado, and Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS)

Gov. Haley Barbour, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, had no kind words for his party's nominee for governor in Colorado Dan Maes. TPM has been chronicling Maes' problems over the last few weeks following his false claims he was a spy. Among his setbacks are the continued third-party candidacy of former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R) and Senate nominee Ken Buck (R) rescinding his endorsement.

Will the RGA stand by Maes with financial support?

"We have put some money in Colorado," Barbour told reporters during a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.

He added firmly, "We have put some money in Colorado. Past tense."

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CO-GOV

Report: GOP Calls Growing Louder For Dan Maes To Drop Out Of CO-GOV Race

Eric Lach | September 2, 2010, 1:21PM

Dan Maes (R), candidate for Colorado governor

As embarrassments continue to pile up for Colorado gubernatorial nominee Dan Maes, Republicans have been increasing the pressure on him to drop out of the race, according to the Colorado Statesman.

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CO-GOV

Tancredo: First Lady Wanted To Ban Christmas Artifacts At The White House

Eric Lach | September 1, 2010, 8:41AM

Tom Tancredo

Tom Tancredo isn't going away. The former congressman and one-time presidential candidate may have upended the Colorado gubernatorial race with his third-party run, but he's still not shy to air his controversial views on national issues. In a phone interview with TPM, Tancredo discussed the gubernatorial race, the Cordoba House project, and what he really fears about Obama. He also referenced a long-standing urban legend about the Obamas' supposed war on Christmas.

"I remember a little thing, like Ms. Obama saying she didn't want any Christian artifacts in the White House during Christmas time," Tancredo said. Another problem, Tancredo said, is "hosting Ramadan events there."

Tancredo's recitation of the urban myth about Michelle Obama disdaining Christmas is just one of several instance of Tancredo ascribing an otherness to the Obamas.

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CO-GOV

Rasmussen Poll: Hickenlooper Leading Maes, Tancredo In CO-GOV Race

Eric Lach | August 31, 2010, 1:16PM

CO Gov. candidates John Hickenlooper (D), Dan Maes (R) and Tom Tancredo (Constitution).

The latest Rasmussen poll of the Colorado gubernatorial race show Democrat John Hickenlooper still leading, and support for Tom Tancredo's third-party run falling.

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CO-GOV

Colorado Tea Partiers Angry At Tancredo: You Spoiled Our Party!

Eric Lach | August 23, 2010, 8:30AM

A tea party crowd. Tom Tancredo inset.

Tom Tancredo used to be something of a tea party hero. But not anymore, at least in Colorado. The ex-Congressman's foray into the state's gubernatorial race has essentially scuttled Republicans' chances in the contest -- and provoked outrage from local tea party members who feel betrayed after once counting Tancredo among their leaders.

Earlier this year, Tancredo was a featured player on the tea party circuit, giving an opening-night speech at Tea Party Nation's big February convention in Nashville. And in Colorado, Tancredo was a big force in the movement, helping to convince tea partiers to work within the Republican party structure instead of forming a new party.

Last December, Tancredo wrote an open letter to Colorado's 9-12 activists and tea party members, urging them to "think strategically" and arguing that forming a third party in the state was "suicidal and would only result in splitting the conservative vote and guaranteeing the re-election of liberals and socialists."

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CO-GOV

Rasmussen Poll: Dem Hickenlooper Leads Maes And Tancredo In CO-GOV

Eric Kleefeld | August 13, 2010, 11:41AM

CO Gov. candidates John Hickenlooper (D), Dan Maes (R) and Tom Tancredo (Constitution).

The new Rasmussen poll of the Colorado gubernatorial race shows Democratic Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper ahead, aided by a split conservative vote between Republican businessman Dan Maes and Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo, a famously anti-illegal immigration ex-Republican Congressman.

The numbers: Hickenlooper 43%, Maes 31%, and Tancredo 18%. The survey of likely voters has a ±4% margin of error. In the previous poll from earlier this month, before Tuesday's primary, Hickenlooper led Maes and Tancredo by 42%-27%-24%. So it appears that Maes could be getting a slight bump from his primary win, but is still being kneecapped by Tancredo.

From the pollster's analysis: "Hickenlooper's level of support has been fairly steady for months, but he has clearly benefitted from Tancredo's entry in the race which splits the Republican vote. The Democrat had run roughly even with Maes in two earlier surveys."

The TPM Poll Average gives Hickenlooper a lead of 44.8%-26.3%-22.0%.

CO-GOV

PPP Poll: With Or Without Tancredo, Dem Hickenlooper Leads In CO-GOV Race

Thomas Rhiel | August 11, 2010, 4:06PM

CO-GOV Democratic Nominee John Hickenlooper

A new PPP (D) poll of the Colorado governor's race shows the Democratic mayor of Denver John Hickenlooper out in front -- with or without third-party candidate Tom Tancredo in the mix. In a one-on-one match-up with Republican nominee Dan Maes, who won last night's GOP primary, Hickenlooper leads 50%-38%. With Tancredo in the race, Hickenlooper leads with 48%, Maes 23%, and Tancredo 22%.

As past polling has shown, the addition of Tancredo effectively splits the GOP vote, giving Hickenlooper a considerable advantage.

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CO-GOV

Colorado Republican Dan Maes: Dem's Support For Bikes Is A U.N. Plot

Eric Lach | August 4, 2010, 11:51AM

CO Gov. candidate Dan Maes (R) and some mountain bikers.

Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes knows you might think bicycles and bicycle riding are harmless, but beware: "That's exactly the attitude they want you to have."

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CO-GOV

Rasmussen Poll: Yep, Tom Tancredo Is Ruining The GOP's Chances In CO-Gov Race

Thomas Rhiel | August 3, 2010, 2:58PM

Tom Tancredo

Rasmussen is the second pollster to include Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in its polling of the Colorado governor's race, and the results, once again, look good for Democrat John Hickenlooper.

In a Rasmussen poll conducted on July 15 -- before Tancredo threw his hat into the ring -- the governor's race looked tight: Hickenlooper led Republican Scott McInnis by two points and Republican Dan Maes by three points. But with Tancredo in the contest, Rasmussen's new poll numbers show, Hickenlooper pulls away from the pack. Against McInnis and Tancredo, Hickenlooper takes 43%, McInnis takes 25%, and Tancredo takes 24%. When the Republican is Maes, Hickenlooper leads with 42%, Maes gets 27%, and Tancredo trails with 24%.

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CO-GOV

SurveyUSA Poll: Tancredo Tanking GOP's Chances In CO-GOV Race

Thomas Rhiel | August 2, 2010, 12:41PM

Tom Tancredo

The Colorado GOP isn't thrilled that former GOP Rep. Tom Tancredo is running as a third-party candidate in the state's gubernatorial race. And a new poll of the contest finds that the GOP's fear -- that Tancredo will draw votes away from the Republican nominee in the race -- seems very justified.

A SurveyUSA poll of the race shows Tancredo almost splitting the GOP vote, giving Democrat John Hickenlooper a big double-digit advantage over his potential general election foes. In a two-candidate race, the new poll gives Hickenlooper a 48%-43% lead over Republican Scott McInnis. Add a dash of Tancredo, though, and Hickenlooper's lead increases: he's out front with 44%, with McInnis at 25%, and Tancredo -- outperforming McInnis -- at 26%. The story's much the same with Republican Dan Maes as the party's nominee. The poll shows that in a Hickenlooper-Maes matchup, Hickenlooper leads 50%-41%. Add Tancredo to the mix, though, and Hickenlooper's advantage increases: he gets 46% of the vote, while Maes and Tancredo are each at 24%.

The new SurveyUSA poll is the first from any pollster to include Tancredo in its match-ups. A SurveyUSA poll from June 17 showed McInnis topping Hickenlooper 47%-43% and Maes edging Hickenlooper 45%-44%. Even without the addition of Tancredo, then, the latest survey would be good news for the Hickenlooper camp.

The margin of error for the latest SurveyUSA poll is ±3.1 percentage points. The Republican primary is August 10.

John Hickenlooper

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper To Run For Colorado Governor

Eric Kleefeld | January 12, 2010, 2:17PM

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (D).

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) will run for governor of Colorado, the Denver Post reports.

Hickenlooper is a top-tier name in Colorado politics. He was first elected mayor of Denver in 2003, and was easily re-elected in 2007. Before going into local politics, Hickenlooper was a businessman in Denver, owning several restaurants and a microbrewery.

Hickenlooper's expected entry into the race comes after incumbent Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter announced his retirement. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, a former U.S. Senator and Colorado state attorney general, decided last week not to run. A recent Rasmussen poll has Hickenlooper trailing Republican former Rep. Scott McInnis by 45%-42%, though this was a better showing than Salazar in the same poll, and better than Ritter in the Rasmussen poll from the month before.

CO-GOV

Poll: Salazar Might Have Lost In Gubernatorial Race

Eric Kleefeld | January 7, 2010, 2:39PM

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar

A new Rasmussen poll of Colorado suggests that if Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar had run for governor -- he has just decided against it -- the former Colorado Senator and state attorney general may well have lost, and might not even have been the strongest possible Democratic candidate.

Salazar and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper were both tested in the poll, which was conducted yesterday, against Republican former Rep. Scott McInnis. Salazar trailed McInnis by 47%-41%, while Hickenlooper is also behind by a narrower 45%-42%.

That said, the pollster's analysis argues that Democratic chances of holding this governor's mansion have actually improved since the retirement announcement by incumbent Dem Gov. Bill Ritter, noting that Ritter trailed McInnis by an eight-point margin last month.

CO-GOV

Salazar Will Not Run For CO Gov, Endorses Denver Mayor

Rachel Slajda | January 7, 2010, 1:36PM

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will not run for Colorado governor, the Denver Post reports. Instead, he will endorse Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.

"John Hickenlooper is a uniter. He transcends political and geographic divides to bring people together to develop solutions. If he decides to run, he will make an excellent Governor for the State of Colorado," Salazar said in a statement.

Sources had told TPMDC that Salazar was "seriously considering" such a run, and the White House had reportedly told him they wouldn't oppose a run.

Today, sources confirmed that national Democrats were talking to Salazar about a run. A Democratic source with knowledge of the process said they "didn't know" what was behind Salazar's choice not to run. Asked if Hickenlooper was the best "Plan B" for national Democrats hoping to hold the governor's mansion in Colorado, the source said Democrats "love" Hickenlooper and called him "Plan A2."

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter announced earlier this week that he would retire rather than run for re-election.

Additional reporting by Evan McMorris-Santoro