Senator Ben "Nighthorse" Campbell, citing health concerns, has decided not to run for re-election after all. The state Democratic party chairman had been speculating along these lines for months, and Campbell's fundraising activity (and success) had been down, the campaign and the senator's office had continued to deny the rumors. Given that the state Republican party chairman had been silent, and the Republicans are now left without an obvious candidate for the office, one wonders if staff members from the Democrat-turned-Republican's office had been coordinating more closely with their old party than with their new one.

The immediate concern is with the effect on the Senate, as a presumably safe seat for the Republicans now turns into real race. The Democrats have been at it for a while, but the leaders seem to be a school board member from Colorado Springs and a University regent from CU. Although the latter may have some, er, credibility issues at this point. Certainly Gary Hart, if he was ever serious about trying for a comeback, has to be having third or fourth thoughts now. He would do well to look at what happened to Walter Mondale two years back. It's probably too late for a figure with any stature, like a Wellington Webb, to get into the race.

I have no idea whom the Republicans can turn to. This might be Bill Owens's chance to move up. Speculation had been that he would run for President in '08, but the separation from his wife was seen as a liability there. Given the tactful, dignified way the couple has handled the situation, Colorado voters may be more forgiving than a national audience would be. We've had a chance to get to know the Governor apart from his marital problems. The Lieutenant Governor doesn't seem to have any real gubernatorial ambitions, so leaving a state with a recovering economy in her hands might benefit State Treasurer Mike Coffman in '06. And it would give the governor eight years of national office, for a run in '12. Since he'd be up for re-election in '10, the timing looks auspicious.

Other than control of the Senate, there are probably no Presidential implications in this. Owens ran 13 points ahead of Allard in '02, and if President Bush really has to worry about Colorado come November, it's President Kerry, anyway. It's unlikely that coattails will help whomever the Republicans come up with, and it's inconceivable that the Democratic candidate is going to put Kerry over the top here.