This page is part of an undergraduate assignment at Davidson College.
Bob Schaffer: A good candidate for U.S. Senator?
Bob Schaffer opposed Pete Coors in the 2004 Republican Primary for the vacant U.S. Senate seat in Colorado. This site will examine why Mr. Schaffer decided to run, why he was a good candidate, and ultimately the factors that may explain his loss to Pete Coors.
Why did Bob Schaffer run for U.S. Senator?
- Senator Campbell announced his resignation and no GOP members stepped forward to run. Schaffer had ended his political career following his resignation from the Colorado State Senate. However, Senator Allard and other leading Republicans encouraged Schaffer to enter the race (National Review).
- He had an opportunity to assert more conservative ideas for his state. Campbell was moderate but Schaffer aligns conservatively with Allard and wanted to bring increased conservatism to Washington (National Review).
Why is Bob Schaffer a good candidate for Senate?
- He served three terms in the U.S. Congress, representing Colorado’s 4th District, succeeding current Republican Senator Wayne Allard. In Congress, Schaffer participated in three committees (Agriculture, Resources, and Education and the Workforce) and distinguished himself as a leading advocate for the Ukraine. His involvement in the House and international affairs legitimizes him as a representative to Washington.
- Senator Wayne Allard and former Senators Armstrong and Brown endorsed him (National Review).
- He served 9 years in the State Senate. He is an experienced legislator and respected in politics. Schaffer was sworn in at the age of 25, making him the youngest State Senator to hold office in Colorado (Rescue American Jobs).
- He received recognition for his fiscally conservative voting record and "strong record of protecting farmers, taxpayers, seniors, veterans, child care providers and property owners" (Rescue American Jobs).
He is adamantly for life, 2nd Amendment rights, limited government and taxes, business, and school choice. These issues appeal to the conservative enclave within Colorado (Schaffer For Senate).
What factors may have led to Bob Schaffer's loss?
- He is not well known to the general public outside his 4th District, even in other Republican stronghold districts (National Review).
- He trailed Coors in fundraising and raised $675, 000, whereas Coors raised $1.6 million (Rocky Mountain News).
- He trailed Ken Salazar in polls 49% to 34%, whereas Coors was much more competitive with Salazar. Republicans may have seen this as an indicator of the race to come (National Review).
- He does not seek to protect homosexual or women's right to choose (marraige or abortion), highlighting his conservative Catholic religious viewpoints (Rocky Mountain News).
- He allowed a 527 group to begin a negative attack on Coors that was not well-received by the GOP (Colorado GOP).
Honor Code
Works Cited
Colorado Political Background
© Davidson College, 2004, Department of Political Science, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28035
Send comments, questions, and suggestions to Jessica Williams
Created: 9/22/2004. Last updated: 9/22/2004.
Political Science 318 - Strategy
and Ethics in Election Campaigns