Hillary Clinton's odds of winning the Democratic presidential nomination are akin to the improbable run of the Colorado Rockies into the World Series last year.

That's according to a Chicago Tribune story today that used baseball as a metaphor - and quoted a Denver-based consultant - to explain the state of the race between Clinton and Barack Obama.

"The Colorado Rockies won 21 of 22 games last year to claim the National League wild card and roll into the World Series. A Middlebury College professor put the odds of that feat at more than 190,000-1," wrote Jim Tankersley. "Clinton 'is probably facing something of that magnitude' to win the nomination, said Rick Ridder, a Democratic political consultant—and Rockies season-ticket holder—in Denver, who directed Clinton's Arizona primary campaign."

Legislation that would bolster embryonic stem-cell research shouldn't be used as a political pawn in November's election, the Republican sponsor of the bill said Thursday in response to Diana DeGette suggesting it could be a Nov. "wedge issue."

According to an article by Denver Post reporter Anne Mulkern, Rep. Mike Castle of Delaware, who is teaming with Rep. Diana DeGette on new stem-cell legislation, said he'd oppose a new vote simply to challenge President Bush.

"I pointed out to Diana on the (House) floor that I hope we wouldn't do this for political reasons," Castle said. "We need to keep taking positive steps and not steps that have a political result."

DeGette said she didn't expect to seek a vote on the bill, offering it instead to measure colleagues' support.

President Bush has announced [pdf] his intention to nominate area residents Donetta Davidson and Rosemary E. Rodriguez to serve as Members of the federal Election Assistance Commission for four-year terms expiring 12/12/11.

Donetta Davidson was formerly Colorado Secretary of State. Rosemary E. Rodriguez is a former Denver City Council member and former Acting Director of the Denver Election Commission.

They are both currently serving as a Members of the Election Assistance Commission.

Colorado Democratic Senator Ken Salazar isn't calling on Hillary Clinton to drop out of the presidential race, unlike others in his party, according to an Associated Press report.

Instead, Salazar said he thinks voters in states that still have primaries should get the chance "to go through this exercise in democracy."

New legislation on embryonic stem cell research could be offered before November's election, Rep. Diana DeGette said today, during a break today from a House subcommittee hearing on stem cell advances.

According to an article by Denver Post reporter Anne Mulkern, DeGette, D-Denver, who authored a bill on the research that President Bush has twice vetoed, said new scientific developments call for a new bill, and added that fellow lawmakers who support the issue are asking for a vote on the legislation.

DeGette called embryonic stem cell research "a positive wedge issue" that could be used in November's election.
Republicans early in the hearing said that science should not override ethics. And that storing embryos for research is problematic.