Philip Davis: "I love the way The Post glosses over the fact that Ben Nighthorse Campbell, after being elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat, "switched parties but suffered no apparent political ill effects." Well, maybe Campbell suffered no ill effects, but we Democrats - who once believed in this man, supported this man, and apparently fell for this man's message during his first Senate campaign - surely did."

Carole Bayer: " The Post had to look really hard to find some reasons that Ben Nighthorse Campbell "can look back on his long record of public service with pride in a job well done." Three years after Coloradans worked hard to elect him to the U.S. Senate, he betrayed his supporters by jumping to the Republican Party ..."

Columnist Ed Quillen: "My guess for the real reason for the party change is pretty simple. When Democrats controlled the Senate and Campbell was a Democrat (as well as being the only Native American in the Senate), he was chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs. When the Republicans took over in 1995, he would lose the chairmanship - unless he became a Republican."

Get the Story:
Letters: Ben Nighthorse Campbell (The Denver Post 3/8)
Ed Quillen: Why did Campbell switch parties? (The Denver Post 3/7)

Relevant Documents:
Campbell Statement | Sen. Daniel Inouye Statement | White House Statement | Sen. Wayne Allard | Reaction to Campbell's Decision

Relevant Links:
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell - http://campbell.senate.gov

Related Stories:
Indian senator a man of contradictions (3/7)
Campbell doesn't want to end like a Hollywood stunt (3/5)
Campbell's retirement called end of era for Natives (3/5)
Ben Nighthorse Campbell ending Senate run (3/4)
Campbell 'relieved' to be leaving U.S. Senate (3/4)
Campbell remembered as independent politician (3/4)
Editorial: Campbell true to form -- he has none (3/4)
Editorial: Campbell never forgot his Indian roots (3/4)
Democrat chides Campbell for being 1/16th Indian (3/1)
Campbell treated at hospital for chest pains (2/27)
Campbell's office center of possible criminal probe (2/25)
Ex-aide suggests Campbell approved kickback (2/23)
Campbell's remarks on casino stir Democrats (01/19)
Campbell reiterates opposition to 'Sand Creek' casino (1/16)
Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes cite support for Colo. casino (1/15)
Harjo: Secrets of the Sand Creek land purchase (12/22)
Democrat lawyer to challenge Campbell in '04 (09/24)
Democrats seek candidate to challenge Campbell (08/06)
Report: Campbell fails to meet fundraising goal (07/15)
Democrats don't want Campbell to run in 2004 (06/23)
Campbell, Inouye disclose financial worth (6/17)
Spokesperson: Campbell ready for 2004 campaign (04/16)
In the Loop: Campbell wants top Olympic post (03/19)