Boulder News

2nd Congressional District Race

Polis Takes the Lead

By Richard Martin, 8-12-08

Now, on to D.C.

As of 10 p.m., with 27% of the precincts reporting, Internet entrepreneur Jared Polis holds a four-percentage-point lead over former state senate president Joan Fitz-Gerald for the 2nd congressional district seat. If that lead holds, it will be an upset, though not a huge one considering the cash that Polis has been able to pump into the race.

“We’ll soon learn if you can buy it,” wrote Colorado Pols in their last update on the campaign. In other words, Polis’ money may trump the experience, Democratic establishment support, and name recognition that Fitz-Gerald brought to the campaign.

Will Shafroth trails badly, with 18% of the votes. A decent, intelligent, and committed man, Shafroth must now pick up the pieces of a campaign that was quixotic from the start. It is the American way for all comers to contest an open congressional seat. But it’s hard to see that the three qualified Democrats in this election – hardly distinguishable in their policy positions—benefited the party, or themselves, by crowding into the race.

Except the winner, of course. And right now that looks like Jared Polis.

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