Colorado Governor May Be Drafted as Favorite Son

Gary Hart’s re-entry into the presidential race has prompted Colorado Democratic leaders to consider drafting Gov. Roy Romer as a favorite-son candidate for the national convention, the Denver Post reported Sunday.

Party sources told the Post that the strategy would allow some Democrats to duck the question of whether they support Hart. Additionally, a delegation not committed to one of the major candidates would have more clout at a convention where no single contender has overwhelming support.

“At the beginning of the year, Gary Hart could have been President. Now Gary Hart cannot be President and people are saying: ‘My God, I don’t want to get involved in anyone’s race,’ ” said Polly Baca, an Adams County Democrat and vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.

Discussions about putting Romer in as a favorite-son candidate surfaced in September after Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-Colo.) decided against seeking the Democratic presidential nomination.

After Hart jumped into the race again, the discussions were renewed, Baca told the Post.

“It’s my feeling that Gary is not doing us much good,” said Robert Traylor, a Grand Junction lawyer and chairman of the Mesa County Democratic Party.

The state’s Democratic congressional delegation has been noncommittal about Hart’s candidacy.