Face the State

"U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Littleton, who is ending five terms in Congress having made his mark railing against illegal immigration, told Colorado Public Radio that he's taking a look at running for Colorado governor in 2010 and expects it would be a mud bath. Tancredo's remarks on the race come about 13 minutes into the interview as aired today.

"In a statement released this morning, Gov. Bill Ritter promised a quick pick to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, though he did not set a specific timeline.

"In the coming days, I will work thoughtfully, deliberately and quickly to identify a successor," Gov. Ritter said. "With the economy in crisis and many other important issues facing the next Congress and the new Obama administration, Colorado must have the best talent at the U.S. Capitol." "

"There's snow on the ground here in Denver. Last summer's Democratic convention here and the GOP convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul seem like distant, balmy memories. Unfortunately, disclosure of donors to the convention committees comes only long after the fact.

"People of Colorado, your employee Gov. Bill Ritter wants you to know that his trip this week to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., to meet with President-elect Barack Obama and his transition team is absolutely, positively, most definitely not for a job interview.

Don’t read too much into the meetings, in which topics of discussion will include transportation and, a Ritter favorite, energy.

Don’t look suspiciously at the timing, during a period in which Obama is busy announcing his cabinet appointments.

This isn’t what it looks like, says Ritter’s spokesman."

"Speculation about a potential move to Washington aside, Gov. Bill Ritter sounds as if he's staying put in Colorado - and contemplating a run for re-election in 2010.

Following a press conference today about his recent trade mission to Asia, Ritter answered a couple questions about his own future. Regarding a potential cabinet post in the Obama administration, Ritter demurred, but did say that "the next Secretary of Energy has to be somebody that has Barack Obama’s vision for creating a different energy future and really meshing our climate policy with our energy policy."