From Durango Herald:

The next decade of political dominance in Colorado comes down to two simple numbers: six and four.

Republicans need to take six seats in the state House and four in the state Senate to claim control of those chambers after six years of Democratic leadership.

The prize is the ability to redraw congressional districts after the 2010 census, making it easier for the winning party to hold onto competitive seats in rural Colorado through 2020.

The outcome might hinge on a game of addition and subtraction among Southwest Colorado legislators.

Republicans see Rep. Ellen Roberts’ race against incumbent Democratic Sen. Bruce Whitehead as their top opportunity to pick up a Senate seat. But they currently have a 21-14 disadvantage in the Senate, so they would need three more seats, if Roberts wins, to gain control.

They are betting on a national mood that has Democrats on the defensive.

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