-
Don’t Put the Cart Before the Elephant
June 4, 2010 | 140 comments
-
Not So Fast, Karl Rove!
January 25, 2010 | 24 comments
-
Virginia 2009, GOP 2010
December 2, 2009 | 26 comments
Political Hay
The GOP’s Colorado Divide
An ugly governor’s race that could damage GOP chances statewide — and nationally.
Republicans head into the stretch run of this campaign season with a chance to make major gains in Colorado. But if an amicable solution to a tense intraparty divide at the top of the ticket is not resolved in a timely manner, the GOP could be locked out of the Centennial State for years to come.
Today, Colorado is viewed as a solidly Democratic state. Obama carried it with 53.5 percent of the vote in 2008. The governor, both senators, both houses of the legislature and five of seven congressional seats are controlled by Democrats. Republicans coughed up both Senate seats, two House seats, the governorship and both houses of the General Assembly in just two elections — 2004 and 2006. And this after Republicans, then firmly in control, drew up a redistricting plan in 2001 that was to have enshrined them in power for a generation or more.
But a recession exacerbated by out-of-control spending at the federal level and Democratic mismanagement at the state level has given Republicans an opportunity to return to power. New faces in key races — in particular, Ken Buck taking on Michael Bennet in one of the nation’s most closely watched U.S. Senate races — have helped Republicans build a sizable enthusiasm gap in Colorado, a key to down-ballot success.
But all that momentum could be lost if two conservatives vying to be the Centennial State’s next governor — Dan Maes and Tom Tancredo — can’t be convinced to put aside their ambitions and get behind the ticket. Tancredo threatened to jump into the Republican primary on several occasions, but ultimately decided to sit it out and carp from the sidelines at both Maes and his opponent, Scott McInnis. But when Maes survived a minor campaign-finance scandal to defeat McInnis, Tancredo re-emerged.
Within days of Maes’ primary victory, Tancredo, who by then had joined the race on the American Constitution Party ticket, suggested both he and Maes drop out and allow the Colorado GOP to select another candidate. This on the heels of his threat during the primary campaign to enter the race unless McInnis and Maes dropped out. It is not known if Maes invited Tancredo to take a walk up Pike’s Peak, but he did decline the “deal.”
Since then, the Maes-Tancredo dispute has benefitted only the Democrats. A Rasmussen poll released at the end of August puts John Hickenlooper, the Dem gubernatorial nominee, at 36 percent, Maes at 24 percent, and Tancredo at 14 percent, with 20 percent undecided. At this juncture, Colorado voters view Hickenlooper as a candidate with glaring weaknesses who will have difficulty garnering more than 40 percent of the vote on Election Day. But in a three-way race, the GOP’s ongoing divide adds up to victory for Hickenlooper.
But it’s not just the governor’s office that could slip away from the GOP. The dispute between Tancredo and Maes could significantly undermine Republicans throughout Colorado and, in fact, the nation. The fate of the top of the ticket often influences the results in down-ballot elections. For an example, consider Virginia, where Gov. Bob McDonnell’s 17-point victory in 2009 played no small part in significant Republican gains in the legislature. In the race for Colorado’s U.S. Senate seat, Republican Ken Buck has a tough campaign against the appointed Democratic incumbent. Any spillover from the Maes-Tancredo feud could jeopardize what looks to be a likely pickup opportunity for Republicans in their quest to reclaim a majority in U.S. Senate. Likewise their infighting could harm a number of GOP U.S. House candidates in Colorado, which could threaten efforts to retake that body as well.
But perhaps of even greater importance, the Maes-Tancredo disruption could threaten efforts to retake both houses of the Colorado General Assembly at a most inopportune time for the GOP, with redistricting on the horizon for 2011. Democrats currently outnumber Republicans, 37-27 (plus one former Democrat, now running for re-election as an independent) in the House and 21-14 in the Senate, and observers say control of both bodies could change hands if electoral dynamics align and Republicans run effectively up and down the ticket. There are not only more Republicans than Democrats in Colorado; there are more independents as well. The General Assembly changing hands won’t happen, of course, with Maes and Tancredo mounting daily attacks on each other.
Even if a lot of Republicans remain skeptical about Maes’ ability to go the distance in November, the fact remains that he did win the GOP nomination. Conversely, by not participating as a candidate in the primary, Tancredo will be hard pressed to convince Maes’ supporters to jump ship after a victorious primary campaign. As long as both candidates remain in the race, neither has a likely chance of victory. Whether driven by principle or vanity, this standoff could leave a legacy that will haunt the Colorado GOP for years to come.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (34) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Ford O'Connell
More Articles From Political Hay
http://spectator.org/archives/2010/09/02/the-gops-colorado-divide
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
H/T to National Review Online
ADVERTISEMENT
Jeff Lee| 9.2.10 @ 7:30AM
Colorado will be taken over by Mexicans who will support Democrats.
Patrick| 9.2.10 @ 2:38PM
As much as both liberals wish and media spindoctors wish you to believe, citizens of Mexican descent are not a lock for the Dem ticket.
Issues of Left vs. Right are more complex in their case than in other racial constituencies. That said, many will absolutely not reveal publicly that they support a Republican.
Alan Brooks| 9.2.10 @ 7:21PM
Jon Caldara (KOA radio) nailed it Just So:
"never underestimate the ability of Republicans to shoot themselves in the feet."
And the GOP tried to elect Pete Coors.
Sheesh.
Sam| 9.6.10 @ 11:54AM
Yes- unfortunately, Republicans have a thing for saying insulting things about hispanics and Latinos that make it easier for them to vote Democrat. If they would focus more on the message of limited government and individual freedom, they'd be more successful.
Ace| 9.2.10 @ 9:40AM
Sorry, Jeff, I live in Colorado and there is no WILL BE about your contention. Already has is more like it.
Alan Brooks| 9.3.10 @ 1:22AM
Caldara (you know him, Ace) and I don't get along when I call his show. But he means what he said more than once to me: "less for you, more for my family". Now THAT's forthrightness. If libertarians-- or just about anyone-- were like that we could nail em down.
Erle| 9.2.10 @ 10:07AM
The republicans blew when they went behind closed doors and picked McInis, by the way they did the same thing the last election and that is how we got stuck with Ritter. The (good ole boy) republican leadership in CO needs to be thrown out
cliff| 9.2.10 @ 1:21PM
Uhh, your assertion is nonsensical. McInnis didn't make it through the primary. Obviously, they didn't blow it for anybody.
Henry| 9.2.10 @ 3:26PM
Cliff, youo miss the point - the state GOP hand picked McGinnis and discouraged better candidates from challenging him. The fact that he lost to as weak a candidate as Maes (for whom I voted) is an indication of the sorry state of affairs in Colorado. Tancredo probably has no interest in running for governor - if he did he would have won hands down vs the competition. But there are better candidates who chose not to run rather than antagonize the party poobahs.
JmsA| 9.2.10 @ 10:14AM
Is this the same Tancredo who lost money with Bernie Maddoff, and shamelessly expressed his desire to have the goverment, that is, the tax payer cover his losses?
John Navratil| 9.2.10 @ 11:01AM
JmsA,
That would be the same Tancredo. Always looking out for number one. The situation in Colorado calls to mind one of the more colorful lines from "No Country for Old Men". The one about goats and deserts.
Citizen Jerry| 9.2.10 @ 10:48AM
It's sad to see aging hippies (think Boulder) turn a once beautiful state into a loony bin.
I used to like Tom Tancredo, but like Ron Paul, he's only in it for himself. So the good citizens of the Centennial State will probably end up with Denver Mayor Poopenscooper inflicted on them as their new governor. Talk about going from bad to worse.
Pete| 9.2.10 @ 4:23PM
While those hippies generate a lot of hot liberal wind in Boulder, it is a carefully cultivated culture of dependecy down in Denver that turns the state blue. The Denver-Boulder corridor is so intensely blue, it counteracts the other 90% of Colorado geographically that is quite red. Sad.
NotALibertarian| 9.2.10 @ 11:17AM
A lot of this hand-wringing assumes that Tancredo supporters will remain with him to the last. That they will be willing to waste their votes. I seem to remember a similar problem in New Jersey's last gubernatorial race, in which conservative support for the third party candidate eroded significantly toward the end.
Furthermore, twenty percent undecided is no small thing. I'm no expert, but it is possible that much of that number comprises conservatives who are still torn between the two conservative candidates. Hickenlooper is "popular" to the extent that Denver libs love him, but this state is still pretty conservative. (Isn't it possible that Obama won with as much as he did because people sat out '08 out of disgust with McCain?)
Finally, as a Colorado voter, I do not find the claim that the Maes-Tancredo mess will overshadow Ken Buck's victory credible. Buck is a SOLID candidate, and Bennet has a toxic voting record hanging around his neck. If anything, Buck's presence on the ballot will help Maes.
I wouldn't count Colorado out just yet.
Richard| 9.2.10 @ 11:36AM
Yours should have been the main article because it covers reality.
Matt| 9.2.10 @ 1:19PM
Tancredo should drop out of the race, considering he didn't have the cojones to join the primary. I hate political opportunists, Tom is a vulture. Gutless turd.
Cliff| 9.2.10 @ 1:22PM
True, but he mine as well be God to some of his supporters, unfortunately.
One way or another, this ends his political career.
Bill Witten | 9.2.10 @ 5:07PM
It is amazing to me how folks with no idea of what is going on will make comments on a story and malign a man who is just trying to do the right thing.
Let me explain things to you folks:
Dick Wadhams and the good 'ol boy club at the top of the Republican machine in Colorado forced out Josh Penry in favor of McInnis. The deal they struck is unknown but it was not in the best interest of Colorado, in my opinion; when Josh Penry left the race the only real conservative Republican left.
Tom Tancredo was willing to accept McInnis (some say he was in the negotiations or on the periphery). He stayed out.
McInnis self-destructed due to unethical dealings with a foundation. What it comes down to is the perception that he lied. This left the field open for Maes.
Maes had a questionable finance problem and both he AND Mcinnis look and feel untrustworthy. In the latter days of the primary it became obvious to several of us that Maes is a liar and possibly a theif. He changed his views on some very important things and waffled enough to prove to us he has no real beliefs except that Dan Maes should be governor. We tried to raise the alarm but it was too late.
Tom Tancredo entered the race because he saw the Republican's last hope was a charlatan. Dick Wadhams (State Republican Chair) had a lot to do with this.
Tancredo offerred to leave the race if Maes would. Maes refused.
Now the truth about his "embellished" life story is coming out and big-name Colorado Republicans are dropping their endorsements. http://www.completecolorado.com/
Dan Maes is a piece of excrement who has lied about his record, made "misleading" statements, changed his views numerous times and, even after many, many Republicans called for him to get out, he refuses to leave.
Thus the call remains: Tancredo 2010!!!!
If Maes drops out and Jane Norton becomes the Republican candidate then the call becomes:
Norton 2010!!!
I don't like Jane that much (too much like McCain) but we need to win in Colorado. I and the other real conservatives will support her for the sake of winning but I'll be darned if I'll support Maes.
Now, seriously folks, be sure you know what you're commenting on before you comment.
William R. Barker | 9.2.10 @ 5:48PM
I don't know jack about Colorado internal politics. That said, from what I "think" I know, Tom Tancredo is a good man. That said... like the lottery commercial says... "Ya gotta be in it to win it." Tancredo didn't take part in the primary - correct?
As to these two guys - Maes and McInnis - I don't know squat about either man, nor do I know anything about this Norton woman.
(Let me just say that absolutely detest John McCain and believe that Ron Paul is a great man whom if I could "appoint" as POTUS I would.)
Anyway... all I can do is hope and pray that Tancredo is the man I think he is and that his decisions from this point on are in the best interests of the people of Colorado and the people of the United States - meaning doing whatever is necessary to kick the Left out of power.
Good luck!
(Hey... you folks this YOU'VE got it bad? I'm a New Yorker! Our state Republican Committee is totally dysfunctional!)
BILL
Bill Witten | 9.2.10 @ 6:59PM
@Bill, Tom is a good man. He has backslid a couple of times but, overall, he is a good man. I live in Parker (Tom's former Congressional district) and I am one of the folks that voted for him every time I got the chance.
That said, the campaign here has become veryt nasty. The RINOs here in Colorado have spent the last several weeks throwing mud at Tom and calling him everything under the sun. He made some statements about not joining a third party that have come back to haunt him. The RINOs and the party-line-over-the-cliff lemmings have really been out for blood.
If I were Tom, I'd be really mad that the party--and PEOPLE--that I took so much abuse supporting and so many bulletts defending would turn so violently on me. Amidst resounding declarations that I was "finished in the Colorado Replublican Party" I might just fly the middle finger and stay in until the bitter end.
I mean, what's he got to lose? Truth be told, the abuse I have taken for defending him from those RINO [not fit for print] has very nearly got me to the point of voting for him to teach the dang RINOs a lesson. They tried to push Norton on us--who McCain recruited, funded and campaigned for, and then tried to play down their mistake with McInnis and take a shot at the Tea Party by pretending to back Maes. Their ultimate goal with Maes, when he self-destructed as anyone with a brain knew he would, was to be able to look condescendingly at the Tea Party and 9/12 folks and say, "See, we told you so. Now let us ex spurts handle the politics".
With that all in mind, I have moments of wondering why I should vote for Norton.
Lesson from Colorado: Root out the RINOs from your leadership. In this single campaign they were able to take out Maes, then prop him up, talk Tancredo into ruining his chances for a further office by waving the conservative flag at him and telling him it really WAS best for the party, then turning on him and then position their RINO Senate candidate that lost to Ken Buck as the Republican candidate for Governor.
Two words: Shark Tank.
Cabermon| 9.4.10 @ 11:36PM
Bill:
I'm from Fort Collins, and would have happily supported Tancredo in the past if he'd been my Rep.
But now he's let his narcissism get the better of him. "Look at Me!! I'm Important! I'm controlling this race!" Back to 8th grade for rematriculation for you. Grow up.
What could he hope to accomplish by becoming a suicide bomber in the Governor's race? He has no chance, he has destroyed any chance the (increasingly spotty) Maes had of winning, and he has blown up any potential Republican leadership role for himself if he'd promoted a draft of Jane Norton or Hank Brown for governor. But no. Tommy the Tank needs the smell of the reporters and the glare of the lights. To Hell with you, Sir.
bluecollarbytes| 9.2.10 @ 8:31PM
However we got here, here we are, with a candidate Maes whose 'ethical problems' are growing. I have no idea as to the truth of any accusation, but momentum is building now with power-Republicans calling for Maes to drop out.
How will it work? This deadline for ballot orders is this Friday (so some can be sent overseas in time). One thing is for sure- Lickenhooper doesn't have to do much of anything at the moment besides treading water.
It's not as simple as Mr Hewitt put it yesterday on the radio, that 'if not for Tom Tancredo there would be no problem'. We got problems bigger than Tom, who may after all have simply seen this coming. Colorado does not abide by shenanigans from their politicians quite as much as some other states. very generally-speaking of course...
Bill Witten | 9.2.10 @ 11:51PM
What do we do? That's simple: Support Tom Tancredo and woo him back to the party after he's elected--if that can be done.
Maes is not the type to quit--even when his fan club is down to just his wife.
Tancredo is angry--and rightfully so. Now there are a lot of folks that are going to be wondering who to vote for and with the buzz Tom has an opportunity to really get out there and inform people of his campaign.
Looks like Norton is a lost hope with Maes' refusal to quit. I don't see any option other than Tom.
Groucho| 9.3.10 @ 1:54AM
Tancredo hates all the right people and he knows how to turn a crowd of normal white Americans into a frenzied mob.
But he doesn't go far enough. Unless a candidate is calling for blood, I haven't got any use for him.
I can get this kind of milk-toast, limp-dick race baiting on Fox anytime.
Give me some HATRED!
Cabermon| 9.4.10 @ 11:41PM
You want to welcome back a selfish narcissist to the Republican party? Party trumps person in order ot be effective. You sometimes subjugate your personal desires for the good of the many.
Tancredo needs to learn that there are consequences for stupid actions. Were this an ecumenical court I'd vote for excommunication. Just sayin'..
Bill Witten | 9.5.10 @ 1:23AM
Well, first, let's not forget why Wadhams brought Tom into this: http://coloradoindependent.com.....-oust-maes
Even though he suspected Wadhams was pulling something like this he still tried to do what the Chairman of the Party asked him to do.
Party trumps person but principle trumps party. I do not want a party to be effective unless it is promoting the principles it advertises as its foundation.
I have been suprised of late to discover how many folks there are that think that party should trump principle.
Political parties are founded upon principles that are shared across groups of people. They are not groups of people who randomly joined together to vote, they are groups who share a belief in specific principles. It therefore stands to reason that if a political party abandons the principles that are core to a segment of its membership, in pursuit of the votes of a different group, or simply because they find it convenient, that segment should deprive that political party of its support. ***Failing to do so encourages the polticians to ignore the wishes of the very people who elected them.***
So if this were ecumenical court, I'd vote to excommunicate the Pope or, in this case, Wadhams. Then I would examine the possible ways to pick up the pieces and salvage something for the people that support the Colorado Republican Party in good faith--because they have been SHAFTED by the folks that were supposed to be looking out for them and advancing conservative principles (again).
Groucho | 9.3.10 @ 1:52AM
Christine Odonell for Senate!
Tea Party Rules!