(Ben Nighthorse) Campbell won't seek re-election

Denver Post ^ | 3/3/04 | AP

[Starter]

Campbell won't see re-election By The Associated Press

Citing his health, Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado announced today that he will not seek a third term this fall.

"After a great deal of soul searching and reflection I have decided not to seek re-election," Campbell said in a statement. "I feel the time has come to pass that duty on to another and return to my ranch with my family that I love."

Campbell, 70, has faced questions about his health since last year, when he acknowledged undergoing treatments for prostate cancer. Last week, he was examined in a Washington hospital after experiencing mild chest pains that turned out to be heartburn.

[Starter]

Uh oh. This was a safe seat for Republicans. Campbell was expected to run.

(BTW: I did a search, and nothing was posted. And the Post misspelled "seek" in the title.)

[IGOTMINE]

Good post. Do we have a farm team out there for a senator?

[Mr. Jeeves]

A young, long-haired, good-looking Native American Republican candidate would send the Democrats into convulsions...are there any available?

If not, how about Tom Tancredo? ;)

[GraniteStateConservative]

Campbell sure wouldn't be onboard that train.

[StoneColdGOP]

If not, how about Tom Tancredo? ;)

You read my mind. I'll be sorry to see Campbell go. I mean the dude rides a motorcycle. A REAL one, not a rice burner. You gotta like a guy like that.

[Starter]

Tancredo was doing a segment on a local talk show when the news broke and was asked if he'd be running for the vacated seat. He laughed and said (and I'll paraphrase here) that he might be too polarizing a figure for state-wide office.

Just after the news broke though, the host and Representative Tancredo were speculating on who might run for the seat. The first person that they brought up was Governor Owens. Whether he runs or not will probably depend on how serious he is about a Presidential run in 2008.

[JohnnyZ]

Whether he runs or not will probably depend on how serious he is about a Presidential run in 2008.

I wonder whether a stint in the senate would help or hurt him. Of course there's the senate curse but I think that's more for long-term senators; being in the senate could put him in the public view more, give him more opportunity to get involved in the national security issues that are again paramount.

There's not much left for him to do as governor -- he already has a great record.

[My2Cents]

An Owens candidacy makes the most sense, particularly if he's interested in making a run for the Presidency in four years.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Owens would be good, I think!

[ModelBreaker]

Do we have a farm team out there for a senator?

I am the Jeffco Co-Chair for the Campbell for Senate Campaign. I can confirm that this release is correct and that the Senator is not running. The decision was made this morning.

We have a pretty strong bench here in Colorado. But it's going to be a donnybrook in the caucuses (next month) and it will likely go to a primary. I'm not going to get into making lists on a public forum--a lot will sort itself out in the next few days.

[Young Rhino]

Didn't the Senator have a staffer embezzle a bunch of money recently and he had to refer it for criminal investigation? If so, couldn't this be a factor in his decision to retire. Regardless, it would be fun to watch Tancredo run.

[Dan from Michigan]

If I was going to run for president - I would NOT run for senator. That's a kiss of death.

[IGOTMINE]

FR continues to amaze. Talk about inside info!

[JohnnyZ]

Campbell sure wouldn't be onboard that train.

Of course not. Why ride a train when you have a bike?

[nobody_knows]

Uh oh. This was a safe seat for Republicans. Campbell was expected to run.

He's a damn Indian giver!

[JohnnyZ]

If I was going to run for president - I would NOT run for senator. That's a kiss of death.

Maybe, maybe . . . but whoever runs in 2008 is going to have to go up against Chuck "You're a Chickenhawk, I'm a Wise Old Owl" Hagel in the primary. It would help to have SOME experience with foreign affairs.

[bruin66]

If not Owens, I'd vote for Mike Rosen.

[BlackRazor]

In case you haven't seen this yet...

[DM1]

I posted this story much earlier but it got "locked" any idea why?

[jackbill]

Why didn't he pull a RAT trick, i.e. run, win and then retire for health reasons? Then Owen could name the successor.