Howard Dean sees Dem win in Colorado

Democrats should pick up five to seven Senate seats in November’s election, including Colorado, Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean said today.

“We believe that in play is Virginia, Colorado, Oregon, New Mexico, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Alaska,’’ Dean said. “I’m sure I’m forgetting some states. That’s a pretty good start though.

Dean, speaking with reporters at a breakfast in Washington D.C. called this a “transformational year.” Because of the extended Democratic primary, he said, the DNC and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama have extensive voter files to use in the election.

Dean answered a wide range of questions, including whether Sen. Hillary Clinton supporters would vote for McCain, Obama’s position on accepting money from lobbyists, the Democratic Party’s position on legalized abortion, how the Internet has changed politics, and whether the Republican Party still has a role.

Dean rejected the idea of potentially 11 battleground states determining the presidential election and said Obama will be working in 50 states.

But he said Denver was selected as the site of the convention “to help us in the West.”

“Clearly we’re going to make a huge effort in the West,’’ Dean said.

Colorado GOP Chair Dick Wadhams yesterday was looking at a different crystal ball. He said that expected Republican presidential nominee John McCain will win Colorado and that Republican Bob Schaffer will win the open Senate seat race, defeating Democrat Mark Udall.

Despite projections that Democrats should have an advantage in this race given President Bush’s low approval rating, the battle for the White House is "absolutely going to be very close,’’ Dean said.

Winning five to seven Senate seat would be enough “to break the logjam” in the Senate and allow a Democratic president to make policy changes, Dean said.

“The Republicans, should we win, and I think we will are going to be concerned about remaking their party and part of remaking their party is to be more cooperative and willing to work with the other side,’’ Dean said.

Dean said he expects there will be some reforms to the primary process, but that he doesn’t see abandoning the Democrats’ choice of dividing delegates based on votes, as opposed to award the whole state to the candidate with the most votes.

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