BREAKING: Former State Senator Tom Wiens has formally filed papers as a candidate for the US Senate race here in Colorado.

Quickly noted: Wiens appears to have great confidence in his ability to fundraise competitively with Jane Norton, and he has deep ties to the party activists who have been frequent caucus-goers and state Assembly delegates.  He has strength in El Paso and Douglas Counties, both Republican strongholds.  All of this helps him in the primary.

Whether or not the Dems can successfully portray him as "too conservative" is open to question, but I'm sure that will be their line of attack.