The Blueprint: How the Democrats Won Colorado (and Why Republicans Everywhere Should Care)
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Through the microcosm of Colorado's stunning political transformation, this is an inside look at the rapidly-changing business of campaigns and elections. The techniques pioneered in Colorado have been recognized by both parties and pundits as the future of American politics. Read more
Publisher : Fulcrum Publishing
Publication date : May 1, 2010
Edition : and Why Republicans Everywhere Should Care
Language : English
Print length : 280 pages
ISBN-10 : 1936218003
ISBN-13 : 04
Item Weight : 10.4 ounces
Dimensions : 5 x 0.7 x 8 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #125,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #34 in United States Local Government #76 in Political Parties (Books) #100 in Elections
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Top Amazon Reviews
Format: Paperback
awesome book. Every Coloradoan should read
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026 by Steven B
Format: Paperback
First, there is a one-star review on this page for a *different* book called "The Blueprint: Obama's Plan to Subvert the Constitution" or some such nonsense -- which as a partisan broadsheet, is exactly what *this* book is not. The authors here have written a brilliant story about how a rather surprising political event came to pass: rocked-ribbed Republican Colorado becoming a mildly progressive state, at least in its electoral results. As a fairly serious Republican myself, I was a bit annoyed at the triumphalism of an old, left-wing friend who had moved to suburban Denver and thought that it was merely some progressive ideal that had finally dawned on the good folks of Colorado and, with the inevitability of socialism, the trend was going to sweep the rest of the country. I never agreed, but it was not until I read this book that I -- a California kid -- understood what had happened. The authors have put together a great story about how motivated, well-funded, and well-organized progressives put together the machine to take over Colorado politics. Maybe their policy is better, maybe not. But the progressives in Colorado had the mechanics to get their message out and that, as we have seen, is often enough to win elections. What's great about this book, though, is it just wants to tell a good political story, instead of trying to force-feed you political inevitabilities. It is tightly written, well-sourced, and thoughtful. Mr. Witwer was a Republican state representative, his co-author a television political correspondent. What's great about this book -- and what's so awful about the other book called "The Blueprint" -- is that this book is a history of what happened in Colorado, instead of what most political books are: apologetics or histrionics. Read this book. Don't read the other "Blueprint" -- and ignore that one-star rating. I'm buying this for my friend in Colora
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Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2010 by ATLLOYD
Format: Paperback
The Blueprint tells how four wealthy progressive donors and a group of bright motivated Democratic operatives in Colorado developed a highly efficient system between 2004 and 2008 to navigate existing campaign finance laws and win elections. They used their model to flip Colorado's state legislature and governorship from solidly Republican to solidly Democrat in just four years. The Republicans did not know what hit them until they were out of their jobs. Using their system as a "blueprint", these left-wing individuals duplicated their success in other states, like Iowa, Wisconsin, Texas, and Wisconsin, to win elections at both the state and federal levels. The model consists of taking over the operations of the political parties, which were hindered by campaign finance reform laws, and bringing these operations to a new level using cutting edge business practices and computer technologies. The authors keep story moving fast, so it reads like a good political thriller. They obtained access to actors on both sides of the political aisle, and by letting them speak for themselves, we get a real sense of who these people are. A handy list of the players at the front of the book makes it easy to keep track of the numerous individuals and organizations involved in the drama. The Blueprint is a great example of political reporting for those who want to know how the game is played in today's over-regulated, high-tech, political environment.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2010 by Michael
Format: Paperback
I'll freely admit that I read this book because one of the authors is a friend of mine from law school. I fully expected to hate it - for no other reason that I have never been much interested in politics. I assumed that no matter how good the writing was (and knowing Rob, it was going to be good) the subject matter was either going to put me to sleep or hopelessly confuse me. I assumed this would be "inside baseball" for a sport about which I knew nothing and cared little. I was VERY pleasantly surprised, and I'm here to tell you that this book is fascinating. The authors lay out a case that is largely free from their own commentary - they say what happened, and how, and they make it read like a detective story. When I was done reading, I found it hard to imagine that no one before Colorado 2004 had tried the strategy in this book; it seems utterly inevitable now, and yet the book makes it clear how groundbreaking the strategy was. Schrager and Witwer lay out the story and the evidence in a clear and compelling way, without arguing that the Democrats' stunning takeover of Colorado was good or bad - just that it happened, that it was no accident, and that it's already being replicated all over the country. Even with my lack of any real base knowledge of behind-the-scenes political maneuvering, I found the story interesting and easy to follow. It changed my understanding of how political races are fought and won, and about campaign finance (and campaign finance reform legislation). It will change the way I think about the news for a long time to come. Every American should read this book in order to understand what is going on RIGHT NOW in American politics. More importantly, the education in this book comes in a very well-written, enjoyable form. You won't have to suffer through this civics lesson - you'll actually like it.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2010 by Marsha Ferziger Nagorsky
Format: Paperback
Colorado has been an interesting place for politics in the last few years, but just how interesting is something that Schrager and Witwer tackle in "The Blueprint." The authors, a local political journalist and a local politician, lay out the political landscape in clear terms and tell Colorado's political story in narrative form. Most importantly, they aim to tell the most important story of all: how the Democrats have turned the state's politics in the past few years. I started reading because I am interested in my home state's politics, but I kept reading because this story matters even outside of Colorado. The Democratic party unified in Colorado and the authors reiterate that other states are following suit. Soon, which others will find success? It was hard for me to believe that a deeply red state, like where I live now in Oklahoma, could be influenced by the new infrastructure. Schrager and Witwer show that it doesn't just have to be a state's citizens to transform its politics; a national organization, supported by those who want to see it succeed, can truly transform campaigns and elections on all levels. Schrager and Witwer not only weave the facts into a gripping story, they use interviews, election research, and history to do so. The unbelievable situation is made more concrete when key players, on all sides, are not only mentioned, but included in the book. The evidence is remarkable and truly forms the case that the Democratic party has shifted. The implications of that in Colorado are astounding, but the effects on other state organizations and the national party seem to be right around the corner. It will be interesting to see how this book informs how the 2010 elections. Even more so, it will be interesting to see the story continue to unfold.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2010 by M. J. O'Malley
Format: Paperback
I had just finished my BA in Political Science when the events in this book were unfolding. (I would be considered a "Colorado Native" until I moved recently related to the political environment in Colorado.) At the time I was only focused on politics at the federal level. (I also went on get a BSN in 2010, which I didn't have a lot of time to follow politics at the local/state level.) I had no idea this book even existed until I heard about it from following Dan Gates with Coloradans For Responsible Wildlife Management. I've always wondered how Colorado went Democrat so quickly. This is an eye opener and easy read that shows how politics and political campaigns have changed in the last 20 years. I tend to be more progressive that most, but what happened in Colorado was an absolute shame. These "progressives" have been hell bent on destroying rural America, at least in Colorado, and ramming their agenda down the minorities, i.e. anyone who isn't Democratic, throats. It's an absolute shame that rich people, who are well organized and can check their egos at the door, can turn an election to get the candidates they want elected. After reading this book, I believe more than ever that the American people, regardless of political affiliation, need to demand campaign finance laws be changed. If that means somehow adding an amendment to the US Constitution dealing with money and campaign finance spending, then so be it.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2024 by Chris R
Format: Paperback
If you walk away with nothing from this book, and from this review, it should be this: by using data, organization, and money, there are political operatives out there manipulating how voters think about their candidates, and not necessarily with accurate information. Without a doubt, the book is what it purports to be: a blueprint for the Democratic strategy to successfully turn Republican leaning states, districts and offices over to Democrats. And it's already worked. Democrats, in what was in 2002 one of the reddest states of country, now control the state House and Senate, both US Senate seats, the Governors mansion, and five of the seven Congressional seats. Further, as the authors, Adam Schrager and Rob Witwer, argue, it's a plan that is being exported to other states, and even being used nationally, to take down Republicans everywhere. So what's the secret? How do Democrats turn a conservative state into a left leaning Democratic stronghold? Tom Tancredo, former Republican Congressman, summed it up nicely: "It doesn't matter if you are running for the state legislature or the president of the United States. Brilliant organization, unlimited resources, and the effective use of technology all in the hands of bright people who are driven more than just simple ideology create the most formidable campaign strategy imaginable." And that's exactly what happened. Conceived as a project by several millionaires--and not just your garden variety millionaires, but including dot-com millionaires with a penchant for data manipulation and a surplus of cash--the Colorado story is that of a small cadre of intelligent individuals bypassing the traditional political parties to orchestrate an ambush on Republican office holders that flipped Colorado to the Democrats. Using huge influxes of cash channeled through shadowy 527 non-profits, Democrats used data collection methods to target vulnerable and marginally successful Republicans with vicious mailers and only marginally true television advertising. Republicans never saw it coming, and it wasn't until almost six years later that they started to pick up the game. Using a method of directing donations to candidates and non-profits categorized as 527s under the IRS tax code, Democrats were able to hide the actual amount of money being spent to attack Republicans, pool from wealthy donors nationwide, and target only a few swing votes to turn elections in several states. It's a brilliantly executed strategy, and one I am sure that every politico wishes he had conceived. The tools are available to anyone who will organize them and that is willing to raise and find the money. As for a read, the book moves fast and feels like an extended magazine piece, full of quotes and interesting anecdotes. However, it's probably better designed for a political wonk than for the average reader. As I stated at the outset, the scary aspect of the book is the ability of these operatives, infusing enormous amounts of money, deft and witty campaign messaging (read: attack ads and mailers that smear candidates), and highly organized grassroots management, can, and are, winning elections, and not necessarily on the merits of their candidates. Fascinating read. Pick it up. Or borrow it from me.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2010 by Daniel Burton
Format: Paperback
Watching and participating in a State Legislative race myself this cycle, I can see the pattern in the book every day in the politics of Washington State. The book describes the web of Section 527 political groups and wealthy donors that banded together to convert Colorado from Red to Blue over the course of 8 years. The potent combination of money and organization, coupled with a logical and on point command of key issues - with a few sharp elbows thrown in - made the Democratic Party relevant and eventually dominant in Colorado. The same methodology was undoubtedly applied here in Washington to the 2012 governor's race. The book explains modern politics and campaign finance in real terms, and should certainly be a read for Republican candidates everywhere - because this is the machine you will be up against in any close race. A good read.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2014 by Ed Barton