Colorado Politics

Top Democrats for president: How WaPo ranks Hickenlooper, Bennet

On the eve of the next round of debates in Detroit, The Washington Post is out with its latest top 15 power ranking of Democratic presidential candidates.

And both Colorado hopefuls are on the list out of some two-dozen 2020 candidates, despite unimpressive polling numbers.

The Fix’s Aaron Blake ranks the Dems “in order of likelihood to win the nomination” — based on subjective criteria, of course.

He places former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper at No. 14, unchanged from his previous ranking in April.

“Politico reported that Hickenlooper’s [staff] has told him to switch to running for Senate,” Blake writes.

“That’s not great. And neither is Hickenlooper’s fundraising, which fell behind even his would-be Senate primary opponents in the second quarter.”

Hickenlooper posted a second-quarter fundraising total of $1.15 million, scoring near the bottom of the ranks of the candidates.

As for U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, he springs from nowhere on WaPo’s April list to No. 11 this time.

“Bennet seems to have surpassed Hickenlooper as the serious Coloradan in this race (for what that’s worth),” Blake says. “The big question, though, is whether the understated senator will inspire anyone.”

Holding the top three spots on the WaPo list as most likely nominee: Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Blake has former Vice President Joe Biden, currently tops in the opinion polls, at No. 5. “I’ve been bearish on Biden for a long time, and that continues to be the case,” he said.

Unlike the June debates in Miami, the Coloradans will not share the stage in Detroit. Hickenlooper will appear Tuesday night alongside Sanders and Warren, and Bennet will take the stage on Wednesday with Biden and Harris.

The debates, seen on CNN and via streaming, start at 6 pm both nights.

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (left) and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet.
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