The Blueprint: How the Democrats Won Colorado (and Why Republicans Everywhere Should Care)This is the inside story of one of the most stunning reversals of political fortune in American history. Four years ago, the GOP dominated politics at every level in Colorado. Republicans held both Senate seats, five of seven congressional seats, the governor's mansion, the offices of secretary of state and treasurer, and both houses of the state legislature. After the 2008 election, the exact opposite was true; replace the word Republicans with Democrats in the previous sentence, and you have of one the most stunning reversals of political fortune in American history. This is also the story of how it will happen - indeed, is happening - in other states across the country. In Colorado, progressives believe they have found a blueprint for creating permanent Democratic majorities across the nation. With discipline and focus, they have pioneered a legal architecture designed to take advantage of new campaign finance laws and an emerging breed of progressive donors who are willing to commit unprecedented resources to local races. It's simple, brilliant, and very effective. |
Contents
Jared Polis Colorados Political Past Meets | 3 |
Pat Stryker A Billionaire Decides to Spend | 16 |
Rutt Bridges Political Nonprofits and | 29 |
Tim Gill Somebodys Gotta | 40 |
Bringing It All Together The Roundtable | 57 |
Money Technology and Shoe Leather | 73 |
We Didnt Have a Chance The Roundtable | 86 |
Circular Firing Squad A Story of | 101 |
Elevating the Game The Roundtable | 133 |
The Trailhead Group Colorado Republicans | 144 |
Election 2006 CoDA Extends Its Lead | 155 |
and Texas in the Crosshairs | 166 |
The Democracy Alliance The Colorado | 175 |
Election 2008 For CoDA No More Worlds | 185 |
The Aftermath Money Message and | 198 |
Epilogue | 205 |
Election 2004 A Great Night for the GOPBut | 115 |
Taking It to the States Part One Tim Gill | 123 |
About the Authors | 221 |
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Common terms and phrases
affiliate agenda Al Yates Alice Madden Amendment ballot Beauprez Better Colorado Bighorn Bill Owens Bill Ritter Blueprint Bob Beauprez Briggs budget called campaign finance reform candidates Capitol Carroll Center Coalition CoDA CoDA’s Coloradans Colorado Democracy Alliance Colorado Democrats Colorado Media Matters Colorado Model Colorado politics Colorado Republicans Colorado Senate Colorado state senator Colorado’s Families Coors Democrats Denver district donors election cycle former Colorado Fort Collins funding Gang of Four Gill Gill’s going Governor Bill Owens Groeger infrastructure issues Jared Polis Jon Caldara later legislative races legislature Lhevine lobbyists majority leader Michael Huttner million Musgrave nonprofits numbers Obama organizations Pat Stryker percent Pete Coors Philp polling president progressive ProgressNow representative Republi Republican Party Rocky Mountain Roundtable's Rutt Bridges seats state’s Stein strategy Stryker talking targeted thing Tim Gill tion Tom Tancredo Trailhead Trimpa victory votes Yates