Morning News Digest: Thursday, November 6, 2008

With the PolitickerCO.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Colorado's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

Colorado voters top 2.1 million

As a handful of counties across the state labored to finish ballot counts late Wednesday, it appeared Coloradans had voted in record numbers this election. (John Ingold, The Denver Post)

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_10910189

Analysts say stars align for Markey

Betsy Markey won a stunningly large victory over Marilyn Musgrave because she was the right candidate in the right place at the right time, state and national political analysts said. (Robert Moore, The Coloradoan)

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20081106/NEWS03/811060326&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

Voter turnout lower than expected in Denver, other large counties

Voter turnout — predicted by many to set records in the midst of a history-making presidential race — fell short in Denver and several other large counties. (Kevin Vaughan, Rocky Mountain News)

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/nov/05/voter-turnouts-lower-expected/

Donnelly leads Larimer County commissioner race by slim margin

After a neck-and-neck race, Republican Tom Donnelly appears to have won the Larimer County commissioner District 3 seat. (Kathryn Dailey, Loveland Reporter-Herald)

http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=19674

Lamborn says he'll work on local issues, helping GOP regain congressional seats

U.S Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs), now one of only two Republicans in Colorado's congressional delegation, said Tuesday he still thinks he can get things done despite working in a Democratic-controlled Congress along with a Democratic president. (PolitickerCO.com)

http://www.politickerco.com/jeremypelzer/2756/lamborn-says-hell-work-local-issues-helping-gop-regain-congressional-seats

Brophy says he's considering CO-4 run in 2010

With the 4th Congressional District now under Democratic control, state Sen. Greg Brophy (R-Wray) will be looking into a run for the seat in 2010. "My wife and I have to talk about what we're going to do," Brophy told PolitickerCO.com on Wednesday afternoon. "And I have to visit with my friends who live in that seat who are perfectly capable of being great congressmen too and see what it is that they want to do. (PolitickerCO.com)

http://www.politickerco.com/jeremypelzer/2764/brophy-considering-co-4-run-2010

Obama's record on firearms triggers run on sales in state

GRAND JUNCTION — John Faulkner and his wife, Brenda, thought Wednesday was a good day to buy a handgun. "I'm 37 years old, and this is the first time in my life that I am really scared for our future," said Faulkner, an oil field worker, as he perused the collection of weaponry in A Pawn Shop here. (The Denver Post)

Ritter: Panel will review applicants for Coffman's job

Secretary of State Mike Coffman, who won election to Congress on Tuesday, said Wednesday that he won't leave his current post until the day before he is sworn in as a U.S. representative. (John Ingold, The Denver Post)

Legal, journalism experts criticize Clerk's media ban

Election officials throughout El Paso County attempted to bar media outlets from observing polling places on Election Day, in possible violation of state election rules and federal constitutional rights of a free press. (Bill Reed, The Gazette)

http://www.gazette.com/articles/election_42901___article.html/media_day.html

Ritter pledges to continue to focus on higher education affordability

The failure of Amendment 58 to pass at the polls will not stop Gov. Bill Ritter from working to make college more affordable, he told reporters this morning. (Mike Saccone, The Daily Sentinel)

http://www.gjsentinel.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/communities/politicalnotebook/entries/2008/11/05/ritter_pledges_to_continue_to.html?cxntfid=blogs_political_notebook

Hard times, difficult ballot makes 'yes' a difficult choice, experts say

Call it Colorado's love-hate relationship with its ballot: the thrill of having the power to change the state constitution and the aggravation of actually doing it. (Lisa Ryckman, Rocky Mountain News)

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/nov/06/hard-times-difficult-ballot-make-yes-a-difficult/

Youth get out and vote in record numbers

Student-voters — fresh from the polls on Election Day — wrote on a canvas in the University of Colorado’s student center, covering it with a rainbow of reasons to explain why they exercised their civic rights this election. (Brittany Anas, The Daily Camera)

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/nov/05/youth-get-out-and-vote/

Colorado may become first to support preference programs

Opponents of a measure to end preference programs for women and minorities in Colorado hold a razor-thin lead in late vote counting. (Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, Rocky Mountain News)

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/nov/05/colorado-voters-may-be-first-support-preference-pr/

County plans to ask again next year

El Paso County officials aren't giving up on persuading voters they need more money - they're already tossing out ideas for a new measure as soon as next year. (Pam Zubeck, The Gazette)

http://www.gazette.com/articles/maketa_42889___article.html/cut_people.html

Weld clerk sees few voting snags

Weld County Clerk and Recorder Steve Moreno had to pinch himself Tuesday night. Was this really happening? Could the results in a presidential election for Weld really be counted before midnight?  (Andrew Villegas, Greeley Tribune)

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20081106/NEWS/811069991/1051&ParentProfile=1001&title=Weld%20clerk%20sees%20few%20voting%20snag

With the PolitickerCO.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Colorado's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.