Colorado Senators and Guns

Although Colorado’s reputation as a swing state is well-deserved, it is clearly swinging from the left, and that is true of guns.

About two out of every five American households have a gun (37.7%), and Colorado is on the near downside of that average with 34.7 percent guns per household. Nate Silver points out that senators from states above the average mostly voted against the Senate gun registration compromise, including Democrats, and Democrats from states below, like Colorado’s two senators, voted in favor of it (Harry Reid was the exception).

The amendment lost three of four Democratic senators up in 2014 from states with above average gun ownership: Begich in Alaska, Pryor in Arkansas and Baucus in Montana.

Observations:

• Although Colorado is near the center of states on percentage of gun ownership, voting in favor of a popular gun bill is the politically smart position for a Colorado Democrat. This would have been a tougher vote for a Republican due to their base.
• Mark Udall went out of his way to emphasize he thought the assault weapons ban went too far and he didn’t support it (Bennet also voted against it).
• Not surprising, Michael Bennet started his term as chief fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee with a bang. A record first quarter haul of $13.6 million, with a big bunch in “digital donors.” Bennet is, of course, concerned about Mark Begich, Mark Pryor, Mary Landrieu and holding Max Baucus’ now open seat in Montana.
• Udall’s funding hit more than $1 million in the first quarter of 2013. He’s still with no identified opponent.

See:

New York Times:  The gun vote and 2014: Will there be an electoral price?

Mark Udall blog:  Our country deserves solutions

Denver Post:  Democratic fundraising committee sets record under Sen. Bennet