It Begins

That's right, ladies and gentlemen... it's time for a highly-targeted Colorado Senate race!  (It's been a full ten weeks since the last one ended, and you're probably already missing the campaign, right?)

Governor Ritter's choice to replace Ken Salazar is already ramping up his campaign. 

He needs to.  He's never run before.

Republicans are champing at the bit to take on Bennet, who is untested as a campaigner and fundraiser, and isn't as well known as the man the GOP had been expecting to face, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.

Many political analysts and Democratic and Republican insiders have said they were surprised, even perplexed, that Democrats would take a chance on holding the seat in 2010 with a political rookie, however talented, intelligent or likable.

I don't care how talented you are, the frenetic pace and constant glare of a big-time campaign can do funny things to people.  Will Bennet be a good candidate?  Who knows.  But his appointment - over more proven politicians like John Hickenlooper, Andrew Romanoff and John Salazar - is a big gamble.