The Democratic and Republican nominees for Colorado governor are well positioned to defeat weakened opponents in November, according to a pair of post-primary strategy memos released this week by their respective campaign managers.

The pair of emails to supporters describe the path forward for Democrat Jared Polis and Republican Walker Stapleton in predictably optimistic terms, though their conclusions are, in many cases, mutually exclusive.

“The choice for Colorado voters could not be clearer,” wrote Polis campaign manager Jennifer Ridder in a memo dated July 2:

They can elect Jared Polis, a self-made entrepreneur and native Coloradan who’s spent his life creating jobs and serving the families of our state. Or they can choose Walker Stapleton, who has tied himself to Donald Trump and is clearly looking out for himself and his special-interest donors rather than the people of Colorado. Jared is continuing to put forward a bold vision for the future that resonates with Colorado voters from all backgrounds.

Stapleton campaign manager Michael Fortney arrived at a different conclusion in his memo, sent on the same day:

As we turn to the general election, our campaign is ready to highlight the stark differences between Walker Stapleton and Jared Polis. We believe Jared Polis is one of the weakest statewide Democrat candidates in recent history and are ready to take the fight to Polis. We know Polis will do anything to win and outspend anyone who gets in his way, but no amount of money can hide his radical, left wing agenda that Coloradans won’t support. This is one race he can’t buy.

Both campaigns point to high turnout in the primary election, including unaffiliated voters, who were able to participate for the first time.

“The party is energized,” Fortney wrote. “More Republicans voted in this primary than 2014, 2010, and 2006 and we expect with Walker Stapleton and Jared Polis on the ballot the Republican excitement will increase.”

Ridder interpreted the same ballot returns differently.

“Across the board, enthusiasm for Democrats is at historic levels,” she wrote. “Turnout in the 2018 Democratic primary was higher than the turnout in the presidential year of 2016, and 132,000 more voters cast a ballot for Democrats than for Republicans. Jared received 42,000 more votes than did Walker Stapleton.

“Official Colorado Secretary of State 2018 primary ballot returns data among unaffiliated voters further proves this disenchantment with Trump, with Democrats enjoying a 65,000+ advantage in returned ballots from unaffiliated voters,” she added. “At 38% of registered voters, Unaffiliateds have long held outsize sway over Colorado elections, and (the primary) results prove that they are turning out to support Jared’s bold vision.”

Even though the primary campaign saw record spending on TV and digital advertising, the Polis and Stapleton campaigns say the general election will be decided on the strength of the candidates’ ground games.

“Most importantly, the Polis for Colorado campaign comes out of the Democratic Primary with a robust ground game that is only growing stronger. Already, Polis for Colorado organizers and volunteers have made close to 2 million phone calls and door knocks that resulted in over 260,000 one-on-one conversations with voters,” Ridder wrote.

“A cornerstone of our strategy was to build a ground game that would be ready to win the general on Day One. Our 11 offices across the state – including the very first one we opened, in Grand Junction – are fully staffed and operational and powered by over 2,100 volunteers. Because of Jared’s work to build a grassroots campaign in the primary, Democrats across Colorado are in a position to win up and down the ticket in November.”

The Stapleton campaign acknowledges it’s still putting together its ground operation.

“Our campaign will focus on ground game and (get out the vote) effort – we are in the process of hiring field staff and will open field offices across Colorado. This campaign will knock the doors and make the calls necessary to turn out supporters in November,” Fortney wrote.

The two nominees are also facing damaged opponents, their top aides insist.

“Meanwhile, Colorado Democrats remain divided – ‘Noticeably missing from the [Polis] rally however was Polis’ Democratic opponents in the primary – Cary Kennedy, Mike Johnston and Donna Lynne,'” Fortney wrote, citing a story by Denver TV station KDVR-Fox31. “And the Democrats’ division is no surprise; Polis has spent a life in Democratic politics dividing the party – just a few weeks ago, Governor Hickenlooper criticized Polis’ tactics saying he went “below the belt.”

Fortney also quotes extensively from a 2014 Politico article that featured Democrats calling Polis “damn selfish” and saying the Boulder congressman was “increasingly isolated from his friends.”

The Polis camp paints a similarly grim portrait of his opponent.

“Walker Stapleton enters the general election as a weakened candidate after a primary that reinforced voters’ suspicions about him,” Ridder wrote. “The primary saw Stapleton position himself far to the right, even going so far as to align himself with Donald Trump, who lost Colorado by 5 points and remains deeply unpopular, with 52% of Colorado general election voters disapproving. Stapleton’s repeated stumbles and strained relationship with the truth solidified his reputation as just another politician who’s out for himself. As the Greeley Tribune wrote, ‘He’s been called a liar, lazy, a rule-skirting politician, someone who lacks a moral compass – and that’s just from Republican gubernatorial nominee Walker Stapleton’s opponents in the GOP primary.'”

Ridder also ticks off a series of attacks voters will likely hear about through the campaign:

“Walker Stapleton stumbled to the nomination after admitting to fraud, getting caught lying in his ads, and turning in cringeworthy performances in the primary debates. Despite all the special-interest cash supporting his campaign, Stapleton had to cling to Donald Trump and anti-immigrant extremist Tom Tancredo just to get through the primary. And this was after Stapleton played fast-and-loose with campaign finance laws before even entering the race.”