AURORA | U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, is already asking for campaign contributions for a 2014 re-election effort after speculation that former Democratic Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff could be a future opponent.
In an email sent to supporters Jan. 17, days after Romanoff told Politico he was considering a run for Congress in 2014, Coffman asked for campaign contributions.
“Andrew Romanoff is a candidate with major name recognition and a lot of friends (like Bill Clinton) in the highest circles of national liberal fundraisers,” he wrote in the email, urging supporters to donate to his campaign.
“I am really relying on you to help me make sure we can counter Andrew Romanoff, and any other well-connected Democrats, who want to turn the 6th Congressional District blue next year,” he wrote.
Coffman declined to comment further, though he said in an email to the Aurora Sentinel that he takes every potential opponent “very seriously.”
Democrat Romanoff, who ran an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate in 2010, told Politico he may challenge Coffman in the 2014 midterm election.
“I haven’t made much secret of the fact that I’d like to return to public service, and that’s one path I’ve looked,” he told Politico in a story published Jan. 15. “I haven’t made any decision.”
Romanoff could not be reached for comment.
Reach reporter Sara Castellanos at 720-449-9036 or sara@aurorasentinel.com.
Am I the only one that feels that Mike should be focusing on actually doing his job instead of spending 2 years trying to hold it? This doesn’t sound like efficient use of time.
Jeez, Kenneth… do you actually believe it’s not possible to do both? Do you really think Cory Gardner, Scott Tipton, Jared Polis, Ed Perlmutter, and Mark Udall are not doing the exact same thing since they are all facing re-election in 2014? (Diana DeGette and Doug Lamborn don’t need to since they seem to be congresspersons-for-life.)
I think Mike Coffman is off to a great start, in the new Congress, teaming up with Polis to sponsor a bill eliminating congressional pensions. I think it is safe to say we would not have seen Joe Mikosi doing anything like that… or Andrew Romanoff either.
What a great fundraising idea Coffman has discovered! Every time a “big name” Democrat makes a show of saying they might be interested in challenging him in 2014, it just drives more dollars to the incumbent’s campaign fund. Keep it coming, Dems!
I certainly hope Romanoff runs against him. I wish he would beaten the ‘Hick’ in the governors primary, but I’ll take congressman.