WASHINGTON – The moderate Colorado senator, self-styled as a “pragmatic realist,” stepped into the glare of the national stage Thursday when he announced his candidacy for president.
Sen. Michael Bennet became the 21st Democratic candidate to join the race after his announcement on the “CBS This Morning” program. Bennet, 54, was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year but confirmed in April he would still run for president if his surgery was successful. Almost two weeks after his clean bill of health, the senator formally announced his intentions.
“So my plan is to run for president,” Bennet said on the show.
The senator, who has represented Colorado for 10 years, emphasized his history of bipartisanship and his ability to win tough elections in the “purple” state. According to Bennet, these traits would help him in a larger presidential race.
Brad Clark, professor of American politics at Fort Lewis College, agrees Bennet’s bipartisanship could benefit his campaign. “He has won every political race he’s entered. That in some way sets him apart,” Clark said.
Bennet’s announcement is a pleasing addition to the “plethora of great candidates running in 2020,” said Carol Cure, chairwoman of the La Plata County Democratic Party. “I think his whole reason for being in public service is that he wants to make Colorado and our country a better place for every person,” she said.
Distinguishing his campaign from a field of 20 other candidates will be one of Bennet’s struggles.
“It’s hard to imagine how anyone can stand out,” said Paul DeBell, professor of political psychology at FLC. “He’s not someone who has a lot of name recognition.”
Although Bennet has had a few “viral moments,” he has kept a relatively low profile during his time as a senator, Clark said. Instead, the former Denver school superintendent has focused on the particulars of legislation.
“He’s what they would call a policy wonk,” Clark said.
Bennet’s “wonk” characteristics and his interest in understanding the intricacies of policy can be seen in his proposed legislation, like Medicare X and the Child Tax Credit.
“I was particularly impressed when he reached out to our office to better understand our research analysis,” said Scott Wasserman, president of The Bell Policy Center, a nonprofit focused on economic mobility in Colorado. Wasserman’s office consulted on the senator’s proposed legislation for the child tax credit.
“It showed Sen. Bennet is focusing on the right levers when it comes to creating economic mobility,” Wasserman said. “This is a guy who is going to talk about potentially obscure politics that could fix the economic problems people are facing.”
In his announcement interview, Bennet seemed confident he could differentiate himself from the pack of candidates because, in part, he will be honest with the voters.
“I have a tendency to tell the truth to the people I represent in Colorado,” Bennet said. “I want the chance to do that with the American people.”
Not only is Bennet joining an already-crowded primary field, but he is also the second Coloradan to announce, after former governor John Hickenlooper. This could further hinder his campaign, Clark said.
Bennet, who previously served as Hickenlooper’s chief of staff, will have to compete against him for Colorado votes and funding sources.
“They’re both considered to be pretty moderate or centrist Democrats,” Clark said. “There’s not a whole lot of difference between them.”
For many voters, it might come down to who they think can best beat President Donald Trump, DeBell said. “They really want to rally behind someone,” he said.
But in his interview with “CBS This Morning,” Bennet was careful to frame his campaign as more than a challenge to the current president.
“This isn’t just about President Trump,” the senator said. “It’s about the politics that existed before he got there.”
Signs of Bennet’s potential appeal across party lines can be found in his two Senate races in 2010 and 2016. The former Denver school superintendent has won a state that is almost equal parts Republican, Democratic and independent. He won his first election during the high tide of the Tea Party, when other Democrats lost their seats. In 2016, Bennet won parts of the state that Hillary Clinton lost.
Bennet’s national announcement may have accomplished part of his goal. “It does nothing but elevate his profile on the national stage,” Clark said. “Because he is such a policy wonk, he might see this as a way to raise the issues he cares about.”
Bennet’s official announcement video, complete with references to his child tax credit, Medicaid plan and education background, is typical of any campaign. Yet, as much as the video heralds the start of “Bennet for America,” throughout the video the senator is often framed by the snow-capped mountains of the Rockies and the high plains of Colorado.
“It says something to me that we have two leaders coming out of our state,” Wasserman said. “It’s because Colorado is a microcosm of what’s happening in the country.”
Liz Weber is a student at American University in Washington, D.C., and an intern for The Durango Herald.
