Downballot: Will the recount ever end?

COLORADO : Denver Post reports that the top three names on Dem Gov. Bill Ritter's short list will likely be: "Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, outgoing state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff and U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter are three of the names in serious contention, strategists said." "It would be a tough choice for Ritter, a first-term governor, because Democrats want someone who can raise enough money to keep Salazar's seat, which comes up for election in 2010," AP writes . "Salazar had raised more than $2 million for re-election." Republicans will now have an easier time finding someone to run. Salazar was scaring off potential GOPers for 2010. Who's on the GOP roster for the Colorado seat? CQ's list : "Potential Republican candidates include two former House members who have expressed some interest in returning to political life -- Bob Beauprez, who lost decisively to Ritter in the 2006 election for governor, and Scott McInnis, who served for a dozen years in the seat that John Salazar ... (link)