Bennet knew ‘it was going to be close’

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado had the unenviable challenge of building support for Democratic candidates nationwide — and potentially retaining control of the Senate — in his role as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

“We’ve always felt that it was going to be close,” Bennet said at a campaign rally Tuesday at the Auraria campus in Denver, citing a history of political waves against incumbent presidents in midterm elections.

“I think we’re glad to still be in it on Election Day,” he said of narrowing polling gaps with Republican candidates. “The terrain was very tough.”

Steve Lipsher is a former long-time staff writer at The Denver Post who covered Colorado politics for four years, including Mark Udall's initial campaign for Congress, Mike Coffman's early legislative career and the 1996 presidential race. He did not ask the "boxers or briefs" question to Bill Clinton.