Governor Bill Owens for Senate:
Popular Governor Bill Owens would have made an excellent candidate in the Colorado Senate race. Owens is a rising star in the Republican Party and was an active voice at the National Convention. Owens has been successful with transportation and education reforms. He was ranked best Governor in the US by the National Review (Miller). In 2002 he was reelected to office with the greatest majority victory in Colorado history: 62%-33% (Flynn). The President may even be considering Owens for his cabinet if he wins in November and it's possible that Owens will run for President in 2008. The Governor's odds for victory are high: he is well known and liked, has the finances, and he has ambition. Owens would be a tough competitor.
Governor Owens does have some weaknesses. Super conservatives have objected to some of his record and criticize his flip flop in the current Colorado Senate race (from conservative Bob Schaffer to moderate Peter Coors). His recent separation from his wife of 28 years has also brought Owens under question. It is doubtful that this would have hurt a run for Senate.
Owens decided against running for the Senate back in March, but it is interesting to compare him to other contenders. There were four Republicans that could have challenged Owens in the primary. Bob Beauprez, the current 7 th district representative, has the finances, but he is only in his first term in the House and some question his political experience. Scott McInnis, the retiring 3 rd district representative, has a strong history of working for Colorado, but he has claimed to be tired of Washington and it is not a guarantee that he would compete. Former US Rep Bob Schaffer, has been out of office for 2 years, but is still supported by the conservative right wing (this could also be considered a negative). Finally Peter Coors has the money and famous family name; however he also has little political experience and some worry that his focus in business is not suited to best represent Colorado. On the Democratic side there are 3 men who could compete with Owens. Mark Udall is well liked and from a popular political family, but he is inexperienced and many consider him too liberal. Mike Miles has been actively campaigning, but he doesn’t have money or name recognition. Finally, there is Ken Salazar, one of the most popular Democrats in the state; nevertheless, some criticize his moderate stances on important issues as not liberal enough for the Democratic vote (Sprengelmeyer).
Owens would have been a strong candidate for Colorado and probably a guaranteed winner. For such an important seat in the Senate it is a big disappointment for the Republicans that the Governor will not be competing this November.
Part of an Assignment for:
Political Science 318 - Strategy and Ethics in Election Campaigns
© Davidson College, 2004, Department of Political Science, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28035
Created by Laura E. Noyes
Created: 9/22/04. Last updated: 9/22/04.