It's hard to run a campaign when your voicemail is full

The last line of today's staff report on the status of Gov. Bill Ritter's Colorado Promise reads: "Multiple calls and e-mails to Ritter's campaign management firm, The Kenney Group, were not returned." Nearly 20 attempts were made by FTS staff to reach Ritter campaign manager David Kenney to answer the simple question, "Is the Colorado Promise going to be a part of Ritter's re-election platform?" One reason Kenney may not have called back? His voicemail has been full for at least the last week. (Probably mostly with staff writer Kate Melvin's patient yet persistent requests for comment.)

Lest you think FTS can't read the writing on the wall: We get it. Everyone in Colorado politics knows Face the State comes from the right side of the political spectrum. We have no qualms about it. But when we write a story, there is an honest attempt to reach out to legislators, lobbyists, press people and advisers on all sides of an issue.

Calls to Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer went unreturned as well. We understand Face The State is critical of the man both Dreyer and Kenney work for. It's their choice whose calls they elect to return. But no media outlet can hold a story on account of an unresponsive subject, and we've done our best to reach out to notable Ritter supporters. Kudos to the Bell Policy Center and Environment Colorado, and the other left-leaning groups that regularly take our phone calls. Our coverage is better and more complete for their cooperation.

Mr. Dreyer, Mr. Kenney - If you ever feel like engaging the media in a serious manner, you have our phone number. Either way, we plan on leaving you plenty of messages between now and 2010.