This page is part of an undergraduate assignment at Davidson College.

Pete Coors and Ken Salazar on Colorado's Jobs and Economy

Pete Coors:

Pete Coors for Senate

• Job creation and economic stimulation are the most important issues facing Colorado
• Big government gets in the way of job creation and job preservation
• Cannot create jobs by taxing your way to a stronger economy
• Strengthen education programs to further economic success and lower unemployment
• Personal business success allows him to lead Colorado to economic success.
• View: Coors' Down and Dirty Ad, Coors' Tax Attack Ad

Ken Salazar:

Salazar for Senate

• Government policies can make a difference to families and businesses
• Wants to eliminate debt
• Promotes tax policy benefiting the working class
• Supports agriculture and rural town economies
• Wants to reestablish “pay as you go” budget policies
• View: Salazar's Pay as You Go Ad

How does each candidate represent constituents?

Constituent make-up: Colorado's Constituency

Pete Coors:

• Symbolic Representative- uses emotional appeals to lower taxes, create jobs and give voters more money in their pockets
• Avoids descriptive representation- could be viewed as an out-of-touch business tycoon
• Economy is an opinion issue- believes people would rather have their own money to spend rather than give it to the government, does not provide detailed policies or factual explanation
• Web site and Press releases are vague and include traditionally conservative catchphrases- "lower taxes," "don't trust big government," etc. (Pete Coors for Senate)

Ken Salazar:

• Descriptive representative- Wants to be seen as one of the people, distinguish himself from Coors with his humble upbringing. Also, highlights his hispanic background. (View: Salazar's Calluses Ad)
• Will roll back tax cuts on highest tax bracket- viewed as helping the working or middle class
• Substantive information on web site explaining his policies but still appeals on a more opinionated level- will fight for the middle class, create more jobs through more programs, policy can encourage enterprise, etc. (Salazar for Senate)
• Could alienate wealthier, white collar workers, which would be problematic

Both candidates seem to prefer trustee representation. They are using their backgrounds to prove that each will be competent or incompetent in bringing more jobs to the state and stimulating the economy. However, because more jobs and economic stimulation will benefit the state as a whole, they could also be seen as attempting to be delegates. An issue like jobs and economy is hard to predict representation because actual policy has not been set forth. Such policies divide down the party or ideological line as well. Therefore, Coors' policies represent Republicans well and Salazar's represent Democrats well.

Representation analysis taken from Pitkin article.

Survey of Colorado Voter's

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: 10/15/2004. Last updated: 10/15/2004.

Political Science 318 - Strategy
and Ethics in Election Campaigns