Do Republicans Still Have a Chance in Colorado?

National Journal ^ | June 29, 2014 | Josh Kraushaar

[right-wing agnostic]

DENVER—Mario Nicolais is the kind of candidate who could help the Republican Party win back the suburban voters it has lost.

He's fiscally conservative but socially moderate, a member of the NRA but also a founder of a Republican group that champions gay rights. And on this afternoon at a local bar, he's clearly at ease chatting up the fans who've turned out to watch Mexico play Brazil in the World Cup. Hispanics make up 23 percent of his state Senate district, and Nicolais knows that Republicans will need to peel off some of them to have any hope of winning in November.

But he won't be on the ballot then.

Nicolais lost in the Republican primary to businessman Tony Sanchez, a tea-party-aligned opponent who was recruited into the race by conservatives looking to block Nicolais's path to the nomination. And he wasn't the only establishment-backed Jefferson County Republican to lose against a more conservative rival. In a neighboring district, military veteran Lang Sias, once a recruit for Congress, lost to a first-time candidate who had the backing of the conservative grassroots.

[right-wing agnostic]

I think that 2014 will be a good year for the Colorado GOP, but I said that in 2010 and they blew it. (Thanks Dan Maes!) I think the Democrats infuriated many independents and pro-gun Democratic voters by pushing their STUPID and UNCONSTITUTIONAL gun-control legislation in 2013. I hope that Bob Beauprez and Cory Gardner can ride the Republican tidal way to victory. If not, WE ARE COMPLETELY SCREWED here in Colorado./rwa

[GeronL]

They should run on a platform of banning pot.

[Westbrook]

> fiscally conservative but socially moderate

In other words, another bloody RINO.

No thanks.

[Hugin]

Run on a platform to reverse a vote of the people. Yeah, that’s a real winner.

[mountainlion]

Chickenpooper blew it. I think the sheriffs are more popular than the demoRATS. Two recalled and one forced into resigning rats in the state are just a start. The demorats can not win on the truth.

[Responsibility2nd]

DENVER—Mario Nicolais is the kind of candidate who could help the Republican Party win back the suburban voters it has lost.

____________________________________________________

And he is exactly the kind of candidate we conservatives DON’T want. I would rather see a big spending democRat win than this Fruit Loop.

[OneVike]

He's fiscally conservative but socially moderate, a member of the NRA but also a founder of a Republican group that champions gay rights.

Might as well be a Democrat if he is liberal on social issues, because being liberal o socialist items means he will vote with democrats to increase social spending.

As for being supportive of the NRA, there are pro NRA Democrats in Congress now, but but it sure never made a difference when anti-gun legislation was passed by the Democrats.

So who cares if he wins or the Democrat wins. Same person, different label is all.

[Hostage]

Hispanics make up 23 percent of his state Senate district, and Nicolais knows that Republicans .....

Nicolais lost in the Republican primary to businessman Tony Sanchez, a tea-party-aligned opponent.

Gee, bet none of those Hispanics would vote for a guy named 'Sanchez'; NOT!

[Hugin]

As for being supportive of the NRA, there are pro NRA Democrats in Congress now, but but it sure never made a difference when anti-gun legislation was passed by the Democrats.

Actually it has made a difference. Obviously not when any gun control bills were passed, the last being 1993. But those Democrats were the reason no gun control bills made it to the floor in 2009-10 when the RATs had both houses and the White House.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Social leftists cannot be fiscal Conservatives, period. This dude is a Democrat.

[colorado tanker]

I think Cory is a great candidate. It looks like Udall thinks pro-abortion ads can re-elect him, which has never worked before.

Hick is imploding, so I have high hopes for Beauprez as well.

[nascarnation]

Colo went blue scary fast.

From +5 Bush in 2004 to +5 Baraq in 2012.

[LongWayHome]

As much chance as NH....slim.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Colorado became a lost cause after it was flooded with illegal aliens from Mexico and California.

[nascarnation]

Not to mention California transplants like my idiot niece who could afford Cali when her “domestic partner” dumped her and moved to Denver.

[kitchen]

Hispanics make up 23 percent of his state Senate district ...

How many of them are here legally?

[OneWingedShark]

Colo went blue scary fast.
From +5 Bush in 2004 to +5 Baraq in 2012.

This means nothing; the GOP pushed ObamaClone Romney!
Seriously, how is offering just the same going to induce someone who is dissatisfied with it to go for it?

(And despite what people think a Romney presidency could actually have been worse than a second Obama term — remember that reaching across the aisle only means compromising and that the opposition party has shown no intent to oppose Obama it would be ridiculous to think that [1] Romney would pull for correcting poor policy or [2] that the GOP would hold his feet to the fire or [3] issuing ObamaCare waivers to all the states would not down-the-line result in extortion of the states.)

[fieldmarshaldj]

You mean “RED.” Don’t use the Orwellian newspeak colors. Commie is bright red, not blue.

[nascarnation]

Yes Romney was a lousy candidate.

But find me another state that swung left 10 points in a 2004 to 2012 comparison. That’s a dramatic and nearly unprecedented change.

[koanhead]

He's fiscally conservative but socially moderate, a member of the NRA but also a founder of a Republican group that champions gay rights.

Fresh perspectives are always useful.