Denver Schools Chief Will Succeed Salazar

Hickenlooper interested, joining mix that includes outgoing senator's brother

(NEWSER) - The jockeying has begun for the Colorado Senate seat to be vacated by Ken Salazar, with Denver mayor John Hickenlooper telling the Denver Post he is interested in, if not “actively seeking,” the spot. Salazar has been designated as Barack Obama’s interior secretary; other names floated for the post include former US Attorney Tom Strickland and outgoing state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. More»

Party can mine the West's demographic, ideological shifts

(NEWSER) - The past few years have shown a surprising trend toward a Democratic preference in the Mountain West, but that doesn’t mean voters are embracing the party line, Ryan Lizza writes in the New Yorker. Governors like Colorado’s Bill Ritter—who gained office on a coalition more of new industries and freethinkers than labor and minorities—have been changing what it means to be Democratic. More»

Decision could cause problems during election in key states

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s official embrace of gay marriage will certainly energize some of his supporters, but it’s also sure to give him grief in these seven states, as rounded up by Politico :

• North Carolina: As evidenced by the recently-passed constitutional amendment banning it, gay marriage is not very popular with voters here. And North Carolina is not only a swing state—it will also host this year’s Democratic National Convention.
• Florida: To put it bluntly, senior citizens don’t tend to like gay marriage. Plus, a high percentage of them vote, and a large number of them live in Florida. An anti-gay marriage amendment passed by a landslide in 2008.

President will meet with key lawmakers next week

(NEWSER) - Step aside, Joe. A day after congressional Republicans called off debt-reduction talks with Vice President Joe Biden, the White House announced President Obama will meet directly with key lawmakers next week, reports the Washington Post . Obama will meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday. More»

Democrat to step down at end of first term

(AP) - Colorado's Democratic governor won't be running for re-election this fall, sources tell the AP. Bill Ritter was elected for his first term in 2006 in a pivotal swing-voting state and has been widely considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. Ritter has called a press conference today to announce the decision, Democratic sources say. More»