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Best Campaign Commercials

Anti-Marilyn Musgrave ads

Coloradans for Plain Talk wanted Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave to be defeated in the worst way -- and they proved it with attack advertisements they financed to undermine her candidacy. The commercials, which featured a pink-suited Musgrave surrogate picking a soldier's pocket and robbing a corpse in an open casket, displayed a wicked sense of humor that tickled funny bones even as they made jaws drop. Although they failed to prevent Musgrave from getting re-elected, these ads were winners with us.

Best Reaction to the Coors Light Twins

Ben Nighthorse Campbell

At an April 2004 event announcing Pete Coors's intention to run for the Senate, Rocky Mountain News columnist Mike Littwin asked retiring Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell if he had any problems with advertisements starring the buxom Coors Light Twins. Seconds later, upon eyeballing a flier with an image of the globular gals, Campbell delivered the horniest endorsement this side of the Oval Office: "Whoa, what the hell's the matter with that? Hey, what have you got in your pants? You got ice water in your veins, buddy...? I'm not that old." Campbell subsequently denied asking Littwin what he was packing between his legs, but Littwin had a recording of the exchange -- and that response was definitely worth saving for posterity.

Best Reaction to the Coors Light Twins

Ben Nighthorse Campbell

At an April 2004 event announcing Pete Coors's intention to run for the Senate, Rocky Mountain News columnist Mike Littwin asked retiring Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell if he had any problems with advertisements starring the buxom Coors Light Twins. Seconds later, upon eyeballing a flier with an image of the globular gals, Campbell delivered the horniest endorsement this side of the Oval Office: "Whoa, what the hell's the matter with that? Hey, what have you got in your pants? You got ice water in your veins, buddy...? I'm not that old." Campbell subsequently denied asking Littwin what he was packing between his legs, but Littwin had a recording of the exchange -- and that response was definitely worth saving for posterity.

Best Slip of the Tongue by a Colorado Politician

Pete Coors

Back when he was running for U.S. Senate rather than running a brewing company, Pete Coors debated Ken Salazar on Meet the Press. When it came to weapons of mass destruction, the Republican hopeful pronounced, Iraq was less of a concern than "Iran and North Dakota" -- a declaration that came as disturbing news to the folks in Fargo. Yeah, Coors corrected that to "North Korea" a few seconds later, without prompting, but his remark still stands as the most entertaining faux pas of the entire election season.

Best Slip of the Tongue by a Colorado Politician

Pete Coors

Back when he was running for U.S. Senate rather than running a brewing company, Pete Coors debated Ken Salazar on Meet the Press. When it came to weapons of mass destruction, the Republican hopeful pronounced, Iraq was less of a concern than "Iran and North Dakota" -- a declaration that came as disturbing news to the folks in Fargo. Yeah, Coors corrected that to "North Korea" a few seconds later, without prompting, but his remark still stands as the most entertaining faux pas of the entire election season.

Best Behind-the-Scenes Political Power Brokers

Jared Polis, Tim Gill, Rutt Bridges and Pat Stryker

With so much attention being paid to high-profile contests like the Salazar-Coors face-off, few people concentrated on races for the Colorado Senate and House of Representatives -- with four notable exceptions. Jared Polis, Tim Gill, Rutt Bridges and Pat Stryker, a quartet of well-heeled lefties, poured a total of almost $2 million into campaigns for these offices -- a staggering sum, given past election coffers. But you get what you pay for -- particularly when the other side doesn't know you're in the market. While Republicans made gains in most states across the country (especially the red ones), Democrats achieved majorities in both houses of the Colorado Legislature for the first time in forty years. It wouldn't have added up that way without this fearsome foursome.

Best Behind-the-Scenes Political Power Brokers

Jared Polis, Tim Gill, Rutt Bridges and Pat Stryker

With so much attention being paid to high-profile contests like the Salazar-Coors face-off, few people concentrated on races for the Colorado Senate and House of Representatives -- with four notable exceptions. Jared Polis, Tim Gill, Rutt Bridges and Pat Stryker, a quartet of well-heeled lefties, poured a total of almost $2 million into campaigns for these offices -- a staggering sum, given past election coffers. But you get what you pay for -- particularly when the other side doesn't know you're in the market. While Republicans made gains in most states across the country (especially the red ones), Democrats achieved majorities in both houses of the Colorado Legislature for the first time in forty years. It wouldn't have added up that way without this fearsome foursome.

Best Online Scourge

Mike Zinna and Fonzi

Since copping the "Best Online Gadfly" award last year for his eye-poking, gossip-dishing website, Mike Zinna has moved from the scandal-mongering fringe to the center of the political upheaval in Jefferson County. His efforts to expose "Pinky T," the insiders who anonymously faxed him defamatory stuff about high-ranking county officials, have generated lawsuits and headlines. Many of his favorite targets in county government have resigned or been fired in recent months, but Zinna keeps expanding as a cyber-scourge. Recently, he launched a companion site devoted to the follies of Arvada; last fall he'd videotaped Mayor Ken Fellman removing political campaign signs. Technically, Zinna's partner in scoops, Fonzi, is a German shepherd, but don't be fooled: These guys can bite.

Best Online Scourge

Mike Zinna and Fonzi

Since copping the "Best Online Gadfly" award last year for his eye-poking, gossip-dishing website, Mike Zinna has moved from the scandal-mongering fringe to the center of the political upheaval in Jefferson County. His efforts to expose "Pinky T," the insiders who anonymously faxed him defamatory stuff about high-ranking county officials, have generated lawsuits and headlines. Many of his favorite targets in county government have resigned or been fired in recent months, but Zinna keeps expanding as a cyber-scourge. Recently, he launched a companion site devoted to the follies of Arvada; last fall he'd videotaped Mayor Ken Fellman removing political campaign signs. Technically, Zinna's partner in scoops, Fonzi, is a German shepherd, but don't be fooled: These guys can bite.

Best Local Blogger

Rake's Progress

"This is not what I wanted to be when I grew up," confesses Traver Kauffman, the blogger behind Rake's Progress in his "one-line bio," but we're awfully glad that this is what he became. Proving that blogs can be both entertaining and erudite, the literate, literary Rake's Progress raises the level of discourse around Denver, and in the process receives raves throughout the blogosphere.

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