Dick Wadhams Decisively Reelected Colorado GOP Chair, Leondray Gholston Pulls Off Third Round Upset For Vice Chair

**Update 3--Scott McInnis "in" for Governor?

**Update 2--Lynn Bartels doesn't disappoint . . . Dick Wadhams accused of being "liberal"--heh.

**Update--photos posted (scroll).

Ben DeGrow was able to post before I got home from a long day at the state central committee organizational meeting, but his report is accurate.

I would like, however, to elaborate on the proceedings.

The vote totals for state chair were immaterial, but Christine Tucker's last-minute withdrawal appeared to boost Tom Stone's bid against current chair Dick Wadhams, and drew a round of gasps from the crowd. In the end, Wadhams was comfortably reelected. Both Tucker and Stone emphasized expanding the appeal of the GOP, with Tucker adamantly calling for attention to the youth within the party.

With Wadhams' reelection assured, the attention quickly turned to the crowded field for vice-chair, with Arapahoe County's Nathan Chambers (who appeared to be the establishment candidate) arguing that experience trumped vision, dismissing his main opponent's appeal as nothing more than "oratory." Chambers' speech, preceded by nomination from Attorney General John Suthers and a second from former Congressman Tom Tancredo, was tinged with self-importance. Leondray Gholston, on the other hand, continued his impassioned plea to build a strong fundraising campaign designed to turn Republicans into "shareholders" of the party. Following a first round vote without a majority (simple majority required, otherwise another round of balloting would ensue), Chambers' slight lead gave way to Gholston's second round improvement, a mere two votes from a majority necessary for victory. The remaining candidates for vice-chair, Curt Grina and Marti Albright, dropped out before the third round, throwing their support behind Chambers and Gholston respectively. Needing 175 votes for a majority, Gholston took the vice-chair position with 190+ votes, leaving many in the crowd shocked by the events that had just transpired.

The Wadhams-Gholston team, as Ben points out, has quite a task ahead of them--to make inroads in the Democrat-controlled state and federal legislative contingencies, as well as the five state-wide offices of Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Governor, and U.S. Senator. The GOP will not be starting out from zero, as modest victories in the Colorado House in 2008 showed that a Republican comeback is not out of the question. The party also starts out this election cycle with no debt, and a headstart on political infrastructure. Needless to say, Republicans have a long road back to parity within the state, much less control. But the road to political dominance starts with the smallest of steps, and the new leadership team marries a vast amount of electoral and organizational experience in Wadhams with an impassioned infusion of vision, enthusiasm, and grassroots support in Gholston.

Waiting for the Lynn Bartels update on today's affairs, the Denver Post offers up the lame AP snippet--proving once again how much superior the Rocky Mountain News was in providing on-the-ground updates to local stories instead of relying on AP newsfeeds. Let's hope they return Bartels to the quicker turnaround we were used to seeing from her at the RMN.

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Click to enlarge:


Starting bright and early, a very busy schedule.


Volunteers conduct credential check-in.


Rep. Cory Gardner chats with folks outside the auditorium


David K. Williams at the Leadership Program of the Rockies table.


National Committeewoman Lily Nunez.


The photo captions itself--Mark Hillman.


GOP Executive Director Michael Britt.


Tom Stone, candidate for GOP State Chair.


Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry places current State Chair Dick Wadhams' name into nomination.


Wadhams accepts the nomination.


The vote.


Attorney General John Suthers pleads with Republicans to make him less lonely by helping to elect more GOPers to state-wide office.


Rep. Doug Lamborn, CD-5


Rep. Mike Coffman, CD-6--with now former State Vice Chair Perry Buck looking on.


Rep. Cory Gardner fires up the crowd.


Former Rep. Bob Beauprez talks conservative principles.


Former Rep. Bob Schaffer, current chair of Colorado's Board of Education.


CU Regent Tom Lucero, candidate for 4th Congressional District.


Joshua Sharf, Denver County 2nd Vice Chair, speaks on behalf of Jewish Republicans.


Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier.

Denver Anti-Stimulus Rally: Videos

**Update: All videos locked and loaded (rally in 4 parts, chronologically ordered)

**Welcome Michelle Malkin readers! Thanks Hot Air! Scroll for videos . . .

Featuring Michelle Malkin, Jon Caldara, Jim Pfaff, Tom Tancredo, Dick Wadhams and many others . . .









Here's SP's photo essay of today's anti-stimulus pig roast, along with Peoples Press Collective, and the illustrious Michelle Malkin.

Colorado GOP Reacts To Election Of New RNC Chair Michael Steele

Ben DeGrow has an extensive post detailing the voting for RNC Chair that occurred yesterday, including insight from Colorado GOP Chair Dick Wadhams and Colorado RNC Committeeman Mark Hillman, and the reactions from Republican activists who hope that Michael Steele understands what social media and user generated content can offer, and also what Web 2.0 does, and more importantly doesn't do:

This isn’t just about Facebook or Twitter. This isn’t just about how many friends one has on a social network. This is about bottom up collaborative political action. And this collaborative action functions using the tools of social media and the internet as messaging and communication vessels.
. . .
So, in essence, the RNC needs to view the web as a thriving community of activists who want to be involved. We want to be a part of something. We want to take part in projects that we feel ownership of. We want to collaborate and help build things that we believe will further the movement for free-markets and sound government.

In other words, less old-school hierarchy and top-down approaches to messaging, and more interactive and responsive political activism.

And not just on the national level, but in every state. A new playing field derived from an evolution in technology and the successful implementation of new strategies and tactics by Democrats necessitates a rethinking at all levels of the party--from fundraising and recruitment to messaging and campaigning. This isn't an old guard vs. "Young Turks" issue. But expecting different results from the same unsuccessful methods for the last 2 or 3 cycles would be textbook insanity and self-delusion.

Congratulations to Michael Steele. The long road to 2010, which officially began once Sen. John McCain conceded the election to now President Barack Obama, can begin in earnest with a new face for the party at a national level. Local party elections are also coming up soon. Now is the time to get involved--we can't wait until the summer of 2010 to show up.

Senator Who? Gov. Ritter Appoints DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet To Replace Salazar

"Bennet for Senate."

Has a nice ring to it.

Wait a minute.

As I heard again and again today--who!?!?!?

RMR posits a variety of plausible theories on the nature of the Bennet appointment by Gov. "Blue Ribbon" Bill Ritter. The reaction from both sides is complete bafflement--both GOP State Chair Dick Wadhams and the folks at ColoradoPols are in the WTF? boat. Other reactions include everything from Bennet as "dark horse superstar" to the harbinger of a new age of political aristocracy in America.

The only constant: that the appointment is risky, especially given the failure rate of appointees to be elected on their own in subsequent elections.

Todd Shepherd of CompleteColorado.com argues that the appointment of Bennet could not have transpired without the blessing of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, widely perceived in recent days to be emerging as the frontrunner among a trio of well-qualified and well-positioned Democrats that included Hickenlooper, former State Rep. and House Speaker Andrew Romanoff and Rep. Ed Perlmutter-CD7.

Whether or not that is the case, following Ritter's official announcement and confirmation of his appointment, Bennet will face the formidable task of raising his own personal ID and building the apparatus for the statewide election in 2010, or providing a capable caretaking role should this be an unlikely placeholding appointment.

Either way, the state GOP can only be licking their chops at the opportunity provided by the Bennet appointment. Not only will the seat Bennet occupies be a top target simply because of the appointment itself, a mediocre performance by Bennet not only puts the seat more clearly into toss-up territory, but disheartens the Dem base (see the aristocracy and WTF? argument linked earlier) and calls into question Ritter's own executive judgement. By appointing Bennet and not a more qualified/quantifiable Democrat from the deep bench on the left, Ritter has drawn an even bigger target on his own reelection and the Dems in general in the locally focused 2010 elections.

PoliticsWest Webcast: GOP Woes

Missed this last week--a good general conversation on the GOP electoral woes, changes in the electorate, voter trends, libertarians vs. social conservatives, etc.:



Colorado GOP chairman Dick Wadhams, Eric Sondermann, an independent political analyst and founder of Denver's SE2 consulting firm, David Harsanyi, a Denver Post columnist and author of the recent book "Nanny State," and Jessica Peck Corry, a public policy analyst for the Independence Institute and a blogger for PoliticsWest--moderated by the Denver Post's Chuck Plunkett.

Schaffer V Udall--Monday Morning Edition 051908

From now until the election, in addition to links provided throughout the week, SP is promoting the Schaffer v Udall blog's latest posts:

Inconvenient Facts for Mark Udall and Big Blue Lie Machine's Assault on Bob Schaffer

Why is Mark Udall Hiding from Unscripted Debates?

Making Mountains out of Molehills

Mark Udall Now Running from "Boulder Liberal" Tag and Debates? A Connection?

Stay tuned to SvU for the most up-to-date coverage and analysis of the U.S. Senate matchup between Bob Schaffer and Mark Udall, updates on Colorado's voting population and party affiliation, and the impact of the Democratic National Convention on Colorado's most significant state-wide race.

Schaffer V Udall--Monday Morning Edition 051208

From now until the election, in addition to links provided throughout the week, SP is promoting the Schaffer v Udall blog's latest posts:

Udall: We're Starting To See A Pattern of "Courage" Emerging

Debate Format "Unacceptable" But Udall Indicates Further Discussion Warranted

What Political Favor is Mark Udall Holding Out for from Hillary Clinton?

Stay tuned to SvU for the most up-to-date coverage and analysis of the U.S. Senate matchup between Bob Schaffer and Mark Udall, updates on Colorado's voting population and party affiliation, and the impact of the Democratic National Convention on Colorado's most significant state-wide race.

Slapstick Politics Exclusive: John McCain Press Conference In Denver

“We have united our party. We are now going to have to reenergize our party, and energize them for a very, very tough race this November”--Sen. John McCain

Updated and bumped . . . scroll for analysis . . .


Sen. John McCain, flanked by former Congressman Bob Beauprez, Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, Senate candidate Bob Schaffer, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and Sen. Wayne Allard

Exclusive to the blogosphere, at least. Your humble Slapstick Politics was invited to cover the John McCain press conference today as part of the RNC's eCampaign Division outreach. Having new media incorporated into the campaign represents quite a leap forward, at least for the GOP.

Also there, Jeremy Pelzer of PolitickerCo.com, a bookmark-worthy independent online source of political news in Colorado.

The entire press conference, unedited:

Part 1:



Part 2:



If YouTube is acting up, the video is available at Sevenload: sevenload.com

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One of the questions from the conference will continue to follow McCain throughout the election--how can he mend fences with the conservative base who isn't particularly enthralled with their presumptive nominee, and appeal to Republicans in the Rocky Mountain West who overwhelmingly selected Romney over McCain in the primaries? And what about that old Reagan coalition--is it dead?

McCain knows that his strength--if it can be called that--lies in his projection of the "maverick" theme he has so carefully cultivated, while making sure that he also projects some semblance of acknowledgement of the concerns within his party over areas where McCain is believed to have strayed. The new term "McCain-ocrats" has been put forth as the new column of supporters, coming primarily from the Democratic ranks fed up with their destructive Clinton-Obama primary, as well as center-left leaning independents who might not usually even give the GOP candidate a look, but will now since the nominee is McCain.

With Colorado's rapidly increasing unaffiliated voting bloc soon to surpass the state's registered GOP voters, McCain's nomination could put more of that segment in play--or at the very least stem the tide of tilting Democratic that has delivered almost every recent state and federal level election in Colorado to the Democrats. Democrats need the help of independents to beat their GOP counterparts who enjoy a large voter lead, and anything that prevents a landslide split (60-40 for Democrats and higher) will at least ease those concerns.

Romney did win Colorado's GOP caucus, but the caucus itself was open to registered Republicans only. Had center-right independents, libertarians and conservative Democrats been allowed to vote, it is not clear that Romney would have received comparable results (and given McCain's 1st amendment issues with campaign finance reform, this might not have helped with some of these voters). Now, however, the nomination is settled and Republicans and conservatives alike are rallying to the GOP nominee's side, as they were at this press conference and subsequent fundraiser. Just a little over a month ago, Bob Beauprez and Sen. Wayne Allard were behind Romney during a campaign stop, arguing that he was the best candidate for Colorado and the party. This is politics, however, and as soon as the Democrats finally settle on their choice for the White House, there too will be calls for "bridging gaps" and "coming together."

So when the Democrats and the left target Senate candidate Bob Schaffer for comments he made about Sen. McCain last year that appear critical, ask them how they will handle their party's own squabbles, name-calling, and vitriol. If Schaffer can't offer his opinion and then change/modify/alter it, then it will be tough (even for Democrats) to see either Obama or Clinton offering their support for each other, once the nomination is decided. And the attacks we've seen between those two this primary season make any tension between Schaffer and McCain pale in comparison.

As for uniting the conservatives--social and fiscal conservatives and their center-right, libertarian allies--McCain has a tall order ahead. He does enjoy the benefits of receiving the nomination early, and the ability to make policy, introduce legislation, and continue (at least) a non-offense campaign that might make some of the early defectors at least open to looking at him again. He can also help himself with a strong conservative VP choice, and many have speculated that the duo seen here, McCain and Romney, might be the eventual GOP ticket. The disadvantage to a long road to November is the possibility of committing a serious gaffe or proposed policy choice that just confirms voters' suspicions about where McCain's true loyalties lie.

Bottom line, McCain is the nominee. Once voters outside of the Dems really pay attention to either Clinton or Obama, they may just be scared enough by their socialist/liberal/progressive agendas to give the senator a second look. Just look at McCain's favorability rating versus either Clinton or Obama. His favorability has been increasing, and is now holding steady in the mid-50s.

Exit question: with the Democrats so deeply embroiled in and embittered by the Clinton/Obama struggle, and McCain up on both candidates in some polls already, will the Dems be even more inclined to lash out come this fall, or watch helplessly as a small percentage of their faithful defect to McCain and potentially give him victory? In the battleground states, these margins may prove the critical difference in the electoral vote count in November.

More from the press conference:


An empty podium awaits the candidate's arrival


The MSM sets up their equipment

From PolitickerCO:

Two 2008 Republican presidential winners arrived in Denver Thursday: John McCain, the presumptive nominee, and Mitt Romney, the overwhelming Colorado caucus winner.

Their goal: to rally Republicans behind McCain in a state where he won only 19 percent of caucusgoers and most major GOP leaders backed Romney or Rudy Giuliani.

“We have united our party,” McCain proclaimed at an afternoon press conference in the Comfort Inn in downtown Denver. “We are now going to have to reenergize our party, and energize them for a very, very tough race this November.”

Asked how he would win over Romney voters in Colorado to his side, McCain motioned towards Romney and said, “I think that he can do a much better job convincing them than I can.”

Romney made it clear how he wanted Coloradans to vote in November.

“I support (McCain) enthusiastically, endorse his campaign and hope that my friends here in Colorado are just as active in supporting him as they’ve been in supporting other great candidates in the past to make sure that we have the kind of leadership America needs at a trying time,” Romney said. “It’s so critical for us not to be talking about politics as we’re watching the Democrats do and process, but instead to be focusing on the direction of this great land.”

Local MSM coverage--
The Rocky Mountain News featured Colorado Democrats on the attack:

Sen. John McCain arrived in Denver this afternoon to make a few remarks and pick up some campaign cash as a part of his swing through the Western states that have become increasingly attractive targets for Democrats.

But before he could utter one word at the Brown Palace Hotel, Democrats launched a pre-emptive strike — getting state party chairs from Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Colorado to blast the presumed Republican presidential nominee during a conference call.

Leading the charge was Colorado Democratic Chairwoman, Pat Waak — with a little bit of swagger.

“We think John McCain is the best candidate we could be running against as Democrats,” she said.

She cited his campaign cash shortage, his getting trounced by fellow Republican Mitt Romney in Colorado’s GOP caucus by a two-to-one margin and that Democrats have registered far more voters than Republicans in the last year.

The Denver Post had a note on the protestors at McCain's fundraiser following the press conference:

About 20 protesters appeared outside the DAC Thursday afternoon to protest McCain's appearance.

They chanted "stop foreclosures" and "McSame as Bush" and "McShame" as the candidate walked through the small throng and entered the front door of the club.

You can watch a video of the protestors outside the Denver Athletic Club.

9NEWS has a short video report at 5pm and a longer follow-up at 10pm (video), and Channel 7 has the story as Romney and McCain traveled from Salt Lake City.

Sen. Webb Compares Dick Wadhams To Karl Rove, Accuses GOP Of Dirty Tricks While Dems Plan "Foot On Throat" Campaign In Colorado

“Mark’s got another little challenge here that I have some interesting memories of. There’s a fellow named Dick Wadhams who happened to manage George Allen’s campaign in ’06. I have a lot of memories of that experience. I have said many times that the Karl Rove approach to political campaigns is really detrimental to everything we are trying to do as Americans. This vicious, personal ugliness that camouflages the reality that so many on the other side have run out of ideas, is no way to run political campaigns"--Sen. James Webb (D-VA) at Colorado's Democrat Jefferson-Jackson dinner

Sen. Webb recalls the 2006 Virginia Senate race against George Allen, the "macaca" moment, and what he called the "vicious, personal ugliness" that he believes shows the poverty of the GOP and hopes won't be repeated--too bad the Colorado Democrats are already planning a "foot on throat" campaign to smear GOP candidate Bob Schaffer and lift Rep. Mark Udall to victory:

“Mark’s got another little challenge here that I have some interesting memories of. There’s a fellow named Dick Wadhams who happened to manage George Allen’s campaign in ’06. I have a lot of memories of that experience. I have said many times that the Karl Rove approach to political campaigns is really detrimental to everything we are trying to do as Americans. This vicious, personal ugliness that camouflages the reality that so many on the other side have run out of ideas, is no way to run political campaigns.

“We found, even toward the end of the campaign that they were going into my books. I’m a novelist. You know, the duty of a novelist is to render the human condition as it really exists. They were going into my books, some of which have been taught in major universities. “Fields of Fire,” my first novel, was the most taught piece of American literature on college campuses in courses about the Vietnam War for many, many years. Taking out different parts of the novels and saying, ‘This is pornography. This is this. This is that.’ Mr. Wadhams, I do confess, I have written books. I do confess, I actually read books.

"I’ll say something else. When our election was finally decided, we knew we were going to win Tuesday night. We had to go through counting of some areas that hadn’t come in. When I stepped up on the platform on November the ninth [2006] and held my son’s boots up in the air, I literally felt like I was climbing out of a sewer. I made a comment then. I called on President Bush to stop this kind of campaigning, to put the reins on this Karl Rove-mentality and put the issues on the table. And I would renew that call tonight: ‘You lost. You lost. Clean up your act.’ We need to start facing the issues in this country. I think one of the things that we’re seeing, one of the reasons we’re seeing such incredible turnouts and such enthusiasm this year, is that the public finally has an avenue with which to express its disgust with that kind of politics.”

Disgust with this kind of politics, Senator?

Two years ago, two of Colorado's richest Democratic benefactors plowed more than $7 million into Democratic candidates and causes.

Now a confidential memo to one of their advisers suggests that it would take contributions of nearly $12 million to finance independent political groups trying to influence the outcome of the presidential, U.S. Senate and 4th Congressional District races.

The money - to be spent by political groups known as 527s - would help buy TV ads, radio time and mailings, according to internal documents obtained by the Rocky Mountain News.

The memo was prepared by political consultant Dominic DelPapa and sent to Al Yates, who wears many hats, including adviser to Pat Stryker, a Fort Collins heiress. Stryker and philanthropist Tim Gill, of Denver, spent $7.46 million in 2006 to try to swing elections for Democratic candidates and causes.

In 2004, the pair, with two other Democratic donors, contributed $2 million, leading to a Democratic takeover of the state legislature.

The memo doesn't say who would contribute the money, and DelPapa wouldn't reveal any details. His memo outlines a proposed media strategy that suggests spending $5.1 million of the proposed $11.7 million budget on the Senate race alone.

Part of the Senate budget calls for a $1.9 million advertising campaign in March and April that would target Republican Bob Schaffer, who likely will face Democrat Mark Udall in the U.S. Senate race. "Define Schaffer/Foot on Throat," the campaign effort reads, according to a financial spreadsheet marked "very rough preliminary paid communications budget."

Smear tactics funded by wealthy Democrats? Just exposing the GOP. Attacking a Democrat? Just disgusting.

Either Sen. Webb is completely oblivious to the current Colorado situation or has fallen into the worst sort of projection--believing in seeing in his opponents what he knows his own side is guilty of committing. For those Democrats sitting at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner, a wink and a nod may have been more appropriate, as the stakes for the Colorado Senate race in 2008 could not be any higher.

House To Investigate Bruce Incident, GOP Condemns New Member's Actions: "It Is Not The House Of Bruce"

"This is the House of Representatives. It is not the House of Bruce"--said an angry House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker

The expected fallout from the Douglas Bruce saga begins (9NEWS has video of Romanoff and May discussing the Bruce incident):

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff and House Minority Leader Mike May this morning announced the creation of a special committee to investigate Rep. Doug Bruce's kicking of a Rocky Mountain News photographer on Monday.

Bruce this morning called his swift kick more of a "nudge or a tap" but said the House leaders are "entitled to have any committee about any incident that they want."

Romanoff told reporters that he has reviewed a tape of the incident, spoken with Bruce and conveyed his apology on behalf of the House to Rocky Editor, Publisher and President John Temple.

"This is a very troubling development, and I think it warrants further examination, and I think we're both looking forward to the recommendations of the committee before we proceed," Romanoff said.

As John Andrews says, "Deliver us, please, from such friends." Other GOP members felt the same:

"This is the House of Representatives. It is not the House of Bruce," said an angry House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker.

House leaders were seeking legal advice on how to investigate the kicking incident, perhaps by convening a panel.

"This won't go unanswered," May said, noting he didn't think chamber rules stated anything specific about kicking. "It's almost incomprehensible that this has happened on the House floor."

Finally, Colorado GOP Chairman Dick Wadhams also denounces Bruce's behavior that diminishes the GOP and his own fiscal reform record:

Having said all that, as the state chairman of Colorado Republicans I must strongly denounce the behavior of State Representative Douglas Bruce.

Representative Bruce’s reputation as a fiscal reformer was terribly tarnished by his refusal to be sworn in last week when the Colorado General Assembly opened because he wanted to guarantee he could potentially serve a full four terms.

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff was absolutely right in not according Representative Bruce the special consideration of being sworn in before the entire House of Representatives.

I am especially proud and appreciative of House Republican Leader Mike May for having the House Republican Caucus vote almost unanimously, 22 to 1, to declare the seat vacant if Representative Bruce refused to be sworn in yesterday. House Republican Leader May and the House Republican Caucus made Colorado Republicans proud with their leadership.

Representative Bruce was absolutely wrong in literally kicking a Rocky Mountain News photographer on the floor of the House. Representative Bruce does owe that photographer and the entire House of Representatives an apology.

Advice to Bruce--suck it up, be a man, and apologize for this crazy outburst.

Exit question--why does Bruce go crazy on the photographer while simultaneously being videotaped by CBS4's camera? If it is rude to be captured in photos while praying, why does filming catch a break?

Blog Sweep 6-26-07

Ben DeGrow--GOP: Tempering Confidence with Patience in '08 and '10

The Drunkablog--Paul Campos considers blogging, trashes Ann Althouse

XDA--Drawing a Moral Line over Stem Cells

PPH--On Not Being GOP Cheerleaders--as we say here, "Supporting party above principle does a disservice to both"

Colorado Confidential--Journalists are mostly liberal[!], but the critics' bias is worse, and besides, journalists are more informed (conservatives are stupid and uninformed) and simply moved by the stories they cover

And if you care, there will be an impeachment rally Wednesday in Denver

What Would Dick Wadhams Do?

Colorado Democrats really have their knickers in a twist over Dick Wadhams:

House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, suggested Wednesday stamping "WWDWD" on bracelets for statehouse Republicans.

She said the letters stood for "What Would Dick Wadhams Do?"

Wadhams, an ace political operative, is the Republican Svengali who returned to Colorado to head the state party after its recent electoral losses.

Aside from the obvious savior reference, Wadhams gets the full smear/backhanded compliment treatment--an "ace political operative" and "Republican Svengali". Apparently "savvy political strategist" was unavailable for this story.

Colorado Democrats really do have a bit of Dick envy.

Wadhams spent some time with radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt (scroll to April 25, hour 2)