Coloradans are in for an entertaining and nasty Senate contest between Ken Buck and appointed Obama Democrat Sen. Michael Bennet. This will be as much of a contest between conservative and liberal 527 groups that the candidates can’t legally communicate with or control as between Buck and Bennet. While Buck never raised anywhere close to as much money for the primary as Bennet did, the senator had to pour everything he raised into the primary, including a personal loan of about $300,000. So apparently both campaigns will enter the general election pretty broke and highly dependent on secretive outside groups to fund their campaigns.

Although Buck showed in the primary that he’s pretty well organized around the state, Bennet undoubtedly is better organized and staffed and is better prepared for the general election campaign. Buck will have to hustle to get reorganized and ready to take on Bennet.