The Real Winners and Losers of the Colorado Primaries

After a confusing flurry of summer primaries leading up to November's midterms, the Aug. 10 Senate contests in Colorado provided some clarity about the mood of the electorate and the parties' prospects for the fall

By Mark Halperin Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010
    • Photo-illustration by Wes Duvall for TIME: from Left, Ed Andrieski / AP; Karl Gehring / The Denver Post/ AP

    After a confusing flurry of summer primaries leading up to November's midterms, the Aug. 10 Senate contests in Colorado provided some clarity about the mood of the electorate and the parties' prospects for the fall, with an advantage this time to the Democrats.

    NOMINATION WINNER

    Democratic Senate Primary
    Appointed incumbent Senator Michael Bennet, a first-time candidate backed by the party establishment

    Republican Senate Primary
    The Tea Party's Ken Buck, the Weld County district attorney, who pulled an upset over former lieutenant governor Jane Norton with a relentlessly anti-Beltway mantra

    INDIRECT WINNERS

    Democratic Senate Primary
    President Obama (who campaigned for Bennet) and his political team, which showed it could turn out purple-state voters with the technical proficiency it will need in the fall

    Republican Senate Primary
    Washington Democrats, who will get the November matchup they wanted against the controversial Buck. Anti-Establishment forces within the GOP that hope to shake things up

    INDIRECT LOSERS

    Democratic Senate Primary
    Bill Clinton (who backed the challenger Andrew Romanoff). Pundits who argued that the Obama brand and Democratic incumbents are totally doomed

    Republican Senate Primary
    Washington Republicans, who have now failed to get their desired Senate nominees in six key contests. Necktiemakers (Buck and Bennet both adopted the casual open-shirt look as a campaign strategy)