Ken Buck will run against Obama Democrat Sen. Michael Bennet

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 10:35 pm, August 10, 2010

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.

GOP voters can’t decide who they detest the most, Dan Maes or Scott McInnis

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 10:19 pm, August 10, 2010

Colorado’s Republican voters apparently had a hard time deciding which primary candidate they detested the most, Scott “McPlagiarist” McInnis or “Driving” Dan Maes. At the moment, Maes leads by about a half of a percentage point, or a little over 1,800 votes out of almost 358,000 votes with 78% of the state’s precincts reporting. It’s hard to see how McInnis will catch up, and the final result may not be known until tomorrow, if then. There may be a recount.
Regardless of who wins, it is clear that Republicans had a hard time choosing between Maes and McInnis. The Denver Post and other papers and conservative bloggers say both men are unfit to be governor.
If, as seems likely, Maes becomes the GOP nominee, he is very unlikely to quit and make way for a more electable Republican. This means he will lose big to Governor-elect John Hickenlooper and former Republican and Congressman Tom Tancredo. If Maes gets more than 5% of the votes in the general election, he’ll be doing well.

Jane Norton 45%, Ken Buck 43%; Michael Bennet 49%, Andrew Romanoff 43%; McInnis, Maes tied

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 12:32 pm, August 9, 2010

Public Policy Polling shows Jane Norton leading Ken Buck in the GOP’s U.S. Senate contest 45% to 43% with 12% undecided. That makes that race a toss-up.
Scott McInnis leads Dan Maes in the GOP’s gubernatorial contest 41% to 40% with 19% undecided. It’s a toss-up.
Michael Bennet leads Andrew Romanoff in the Democrats’ U.S. Senate primary 49% to 43% with 9% undecided.
LINK:
Bennet favored, GOP gov. and sen. primaries up in the air. Public Policy Polling.
h/t Coloradopols

Tom Tancredo radio ad attacks John Hickenlooper’s sanctuary city, sanctuary state

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 12:09 pm, August 9, 2010

Tom Tancredo is running against John Hickenlooper’s sanctuary city. He says that if he has anything to do about it, Hick won’t make Colorado a sanctuary state. LINK: Sanctuary State.
Federalism, states rights and the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution will be a major focus of Tancredo’s campaign. He makes his pitch in this radio ad. LINK: 10th Amendment.
Ads are at
http://tancredoforgovernor2010.org/EmailMessage.mp3 and
http://tancredoforgovernor2010.org/Sanctuary%20City%20Spot%208_5_10_Master_Mix.mp3

Tea Party activist blogs for Tom Tancredo

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 10:53 am, August 9, 2010

Nancy McKierman blogs at Tea Party Brewing on why she likes Tom Tancredo.

Arapahoe County Republican Mens Club president, Cliff Dodge , will run Tom Tancredo’s campaign

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 8:59 am, August 9, 2010

Gubernatorial candidate Tom Tancredo this morning announced that his old friend, Cliff Dodge, will run his campaign. Dodge served in the state legislature with Tancredo back in the 1970s and 1980s and was known as one of the four “crazies” along with Tancredo. Bay Buchanan is Tancredo’s campaign manager. She managed his 2008 presidential campaign.
Dodge is the president of the Arapahoe County Republican Mens [and womens] Club. His decision to work for Tancredo is a major defection from the GOP, which is intent on electing the ethically challenged Scott McInnis or Dan Maes governor, depending on which one wins tomorrow’s primary election. The Denver Post and several other papers in Colorado have joined several conservative bloggers in calling both McInnis and Maes unfit to serve as governor.

Dick Wadhams and GOP reportedly won’t ask Scott McInnis or Dan Maes to quit

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 8:41 am, August 9, 2010

Sherry Collins, a member of the Colorado Republican Party central committee and of the vacancy committee, this morning told the Jefferson County Republican Men’s club that “It is my understanding that Dick Wadhams will not ask [Dan Maes or Scott McInnis] to step down.” She said that the vacancy committee will not need to appoint a replacement candidate, because it is unlikely that either McInnis or Maes will quit. I haven’t had a chance to call Wadhams, the chairman of the state GOP party, to confirm this because I’m still at the breakfast. Collins told me that Wadhams announced to the committee two weeks ago that he won’t ask the candidates to quit.
Of course, Wadhams hardly on the best of terms with McInnis. Months ago, Wadhams predicted that McInnis never could win a personality contest in his run for governor. He’s also called McInnis “untrustworthy,” according to Tom Tancredo and talk show host, Peter Boyles.
Wadhams has called Maes a “joke.” And that was before Maes became the laughingstock of Colorado. 
If McInnis or Maes quit, others will convince them to face reality. Wadhams has no clout with these guys.

Tom Tancredo says he could never support Tom Wiens for governor

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 8:26 am, August 9, 2010

Gubernatorial candidate Tom Tancredo told me this morning that he never could support former state Senator Tom Wiens for governor.
After he spoke to the Jefferson County Republican Men’s club, I asked Tancredo, “Could you ever support Tom Wiens for governor?” He replied, “No.”
That means that if the winner of tomorrow’s GOP gubernatorial primary quits under pressure from the party and its vacancy committee selects Wiens as a replacement candidate, Tancredo won’t drop out to let Wiens go up against Hickenlooper in a two-way race. As a result, Wiens probably wouldn’t run in a hopeless race. He has been mentioned as a possible replacement candidate if either Scott McInnis or Dan Maes wins the the GOP gubernatorial primary and then quits the race because of widespread concerns about their ethical challenges and competency.

Colorado’s caucus and state assembly scheme has created tremendous problems for both parties

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 5:37 pm, August 8, 2010

The Grand Junction Sentinel has got this one right. It is time to do away with Colorado’s undemocratic caucuses and state assemblies.
Impact graphs:
For one thing — and tea party types are right in this respect — the process allows party leaders and their favored candidates to elbow most other candidates out of the game. Many people believe Josh Penry would have stayed in the race for governor if key figures in the Republican Party hadn’t made it clear Scott McInnis was their annointed candidate.
Second, the precinct caucus system allows small groups of very committed voters — often far from the mainstream of Coloradans in general — to control caucuses and push little-known or fringe candidates. This isn’t new in 2010. It has occurred for decades, often producing candidates who are unappealing to independents and moderates in both parties.
Finally, the requirement that candidates for party nomination receive at least 30 percent of the delegate vote at state or district conventions means that it’s unlikely voters will see more than two primary candidates in a single party for any given office.
LINKs:
Primary predicament. Grand Junction Sentinel editorial.
Ken Buck, Andrew Romanoff look strong in tonight’s caucuses, but so what? The Business Word, 3.16.2010.

Tom Tancredo at Jefferson County Republican Mens Club Monday

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 5:25 pm, August 8, 2010

Gubernatorial candidate, Tom Tancredo, will address the Jefferson County Republican Mens [and Womens] Club at 7 – 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9. Details:Howard Johnson Denver West, 12100 W 44th Ave, Wheat Ridge, I-70 (exit 266) & Ward Rd, across fromTravel Centers of America Truck Stop.) Meeting $10 tab buys your Davie’s Chuck Wagon Diner (#3) yummy order-your-own-breakfast, super speaker(s), program, Q&A, and camaraderie with some truly great folks.  

About 10 days ago, Tancredo addressed a big crowd at the Highlands Ranch Republicans breakfast. The Arapahoe County Republican Men’s Club has voted to have him debate the GOP candidate for governor.
I suspect more GOP clubs around the state will invite Tancredo to talk to them during the campaign, especially as it becomes clear that he is the real GOP candidate in the race.

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