Dem Mike Miles is underdog in Colorado Senate primary | Denver Post

[Ediacara]

Dem is underdog in Senate primary

By Susan Greene and Mark P. Couch
Denver Post Staff Writers


Post file / Glen Martin
Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar
in a December 2003 photo.

Underdog Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Miles is posing a tougher challenge to favorite Ken Salazar than many political watchers expected.

The Colorado Springs educator and former Army Ranger is drawing a devoted following, not only among liberals new to party politics but also longtime activists disenchanted with Salazar's centrism and party politics as usual.

On Saturday, Miles garnered 42 percent of the vote at the Denver County Democratic Party assembly and 45 percent in Boulder County. The previous weekend, Miles won 49 percent of the delegates in Larimer County's Democratic Party assembly and 45 percent in Jefferson County.

"The Miles thing is big," said former state party chief Tim Knaus, a Salazar supporter. "I'm trying to decide if this is just a wrinkle of interest or whether Miles is posing a real threat to Salazar."

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[denverbill]

1. IMO, I'd rather Miles win this.

Congress has enough multimillionaire career politicians and too few guys like Mike. America would be better off with Miles in the Senate.

Unfortunately, in all likelihood, it doesn't matter. Colorado will probably send the ultra-right-wing beer baron than either Miles or his Hispanic opponent Ken Salazar.

[paulk]

2. I can see both sides of this...

I can completely understand people's frustration with the incestuous circle jerk that calls itself the Colorado Democratic Party. I can relate to a protest vote, I can even relate to voting for Mr. Miles for his positions on the issues, although I still find his lack of political experience problematic.

The problem is that Mike Miles has no chance of winning in the general election and Ken Salazar does. If we manage to put a Democrat in the White House this election cycle it really won't do much good unless we can also take at least the Senate. We've been handed an opportunity to take a seat (Campbell's) no one thought we had a shot at, and IMHO the better candidate for accomplishing that is Salazar.

[goodhue]

4. why does Mike Miles have no chance of winning?

I know this is conventional wisdom amongst those who propogate convention wisdom, but please explain for those of us who don't understand why this west point graduate and army ranger could not win.

[paulk]

5. Because he doesn't represent Colorado as a whole -

Colorado is fundamentally centrist - it will take a centrist candidate to win this state. The only Democrat to win a statewide election in the last decade was .... Ken Salazar.

Mike Miles doesn't have name recognition and he doesn't have political experience, either legislative or on the campaign trail. He doesn't have access to the kind of fund raising it will take to defeat the big money Coors will bring. It remains to be seen whether Miles could tap into the minority vote, something Salazar has already shown he can do.

[goodhue]

3. Go, Miles, Go!

As I understand it, many DK delegates and other progressives support Miles. DK won Boulder county convention over weekend and had about 25% in Denver.

[Crunchy Frog]

6. Yesss!!!!! n/t