Memo to Bill Ritter: Pick Hick

With Ken Salazar leaving the Senate to become Obama's Interior Secretary, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter is going to have to tap a replacement to serve out the final two years of Salazar's term. While a lot of names have been bandied about, his choice is very easy: he should pick Denver mayor John Hickenlooper without reservation. Hick would be the best choice for the seat by far.

The reasons for this are pretty straightforward. First, Hick is very popular in Denver, the largest city in the state, so he would have an immediate base to build on. Second, despite unquestioned liberal views on the environment, Hick has some moderate streaks (such as on legalizing marijuana), and he has gotten along well with Republicans on issues.

Third, and perhaps most important, he has no legislative record. While some may argue that having a record as a legislator is a positive as it demonstates experience, really, the opposite is true when it comes to electoral politics: the longer the record you have, the bigger the liabilty. Someone who has spent years in Congress has cast hundreds of votes on very controversial issues, issues that are bound to make that person as many detractors as supporters.

This is the dilemma facing Congresswoman Diane DeGette, also of Denver. While she has a long congressional career, her record is also long, and it is unabashedly liberal. This would make her much easier to attack in a general campaign. Hick would not have these problems. Ditto Andrew Romanoff, the outgoing State House Speaker, who also would have baggage in a campaign.

One worry for Hickenlooper would be that he could be identified as the "Denver candidate" by Republicans in an effort to hurt him in the rural eastern and western parts of the state. However, I don't think this strategy would work since the campaign to tarnish Mark Udall this year as a "Boulder liberal" failed so miserably.

Salazar's appointment should worry Democrats. While Colorado has been trending Democratic in recent years, it is not yet New York, and this seat could still be lost. Of course, the weak Republican bench (there are only two GOP congressman, one of whom will be a freshman and the other is a second-term, ultra-conservative Evangelical from Colorado Springs) will aid Dems too; especially if the retiring Tom Tancredo is able to grab the GOP nomination, an eventuality I think is very possible.

In the end, then, Dems would be well served if Governor Ritter picks the best Democrat equipped to run statewide. Given his current popularity and his lack of a record, that person is John Hickenlooper.