Might Ken Salazar put on another hat and go from senator to Cabinet secretary to governor?
A Democratic source in Washington told TPMDC that Salazar, President Obama’s secretary of the interior and former senator from Colorado, is “seriously considering” a bid for governor. Another Democratic source told TPMDC the Salazar rumors are “serious.”
Since Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter signaled he will retire instead of seek reelection, Salazar has emerged as a top possibility to run for the seat. Officials told the Denver Post Salazar wants to make a decision within 72 hours and said he met with White House officials.
Reports from the ground are that other potential Democratic contenders are waiting for Salazar to make a decision.
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, interested in the job, told the Durango Herald he wouldn’t challenge Salazar.
“He has earned not only my respect and admiration, but my deference,” Hickenlooper said.
For his part, Salazar wouldn’t comment during an Interior press conference, offering only praise for Ritter.
Whoever steps in as the Democratic candidate would challenge Republican Scott McInnis, who led Ritter in recent polls.
Campaign types closely following the key swing state were hoping the shakeup would prompt former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff to drop his primary challenge of Sen. Michael Bennet (D), appointed by Ritter to fill Salazar’s seat last year.
The Herald also reported that Denver Democrats suggest a Salazar-Romanoff ticket is possible.
The White House did not respond to several requests for comment, and Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters Wednesday afternoon that Obama thinks Salazar is doing “valuable work” and he didn’t “believe” Obama “had a conversation with him recently about politics ”
However, the Denver Post reported Salazar met with White House officials about potentially taking the gig on Wednesday morning.
Politico reported that administration officials say they would support him if he decided to run.
Several administration sources said they understand why he would be interested but hope he stays because they find him invaluable and he has such a good relationship with both Obama and Vice President Biden.
Obama has deployed Salazar to help with negotiations on health care in the senate.
Salazar was included in the talks because of his “solid” relationships with centrists and Western senators, Reid spokesman Jim Manley told TPMDC in December.
Manley called Salazar “an expert at getting along with people.”
He also played a key role in negotiating to keep Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) as a member of the Democratic caucus.
Colorado polls show Salazar is not as popular now in his home state as he once was.
(Additional reporting by Eric Kleefeld and Evan McMorris-Santoro.)
