Earlier today, I wrote about the way Democratic candidates for Senate appear to be running to the right -- and away from John Kerry. This tendency belies a desperation among Democrats that the poor performance of the top of their ticket may well destroy any chance of the secondary candidates to win. CQ reader Gary S. notes an example of this from last Sunday's Meet the Press, which had both Colorado Senate candidates talking with Tim Russert.

Gary notes this exchange between Ken Salazar, the Democratic candidate, and Russert:

MR. RUSSERT: You say that you wouldn't use the same words that John Kerry used. John Kerry's been to Colorado five times during his campaign, and you've never appeared with him. Are you running away from John Kerry?

MR. SALAZAR: I'm not running away from John Kerry. John Kerry is a person who has done a lot for this country, who has served this country with distinction. He is somebody who I support. I don't mind saying that at all, because I do believe that he's going to be the next president of the United States.

MR. RUSSERT: Will you campaign with him this cycle?

MR. SALAZAR: I will campaign with him in Colorado when he comes, but I'm not going to change my schedule just because there happens to be a candidate that comes into the state of Colorado. You know, this race has been a seven-month race between Pete and me. We have a very, very heavy schedule.

He has a heavy schedule? It's too heavy to appear with the party's nominee for President, where the press coverage would guarantee Salazar prime-time news coverage throughout the state? Salazar cannot think that this excuse will wash with thinking Coloradoans, let alone the rest of the country.

Five times Kerry visited Colorado. Five times Ken Salazar found someplace else to be. Do the math.

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