Posted on 03/09/2004 10:49:15 AM PST by Columbine
DENVER (News 4) Gov. Bill Owens will not running for U.S. Senate, News 4 reports.
News 4 has confirmed that Owens will make the announcement at 1 p.m. Watch his announcement live on the home page of news4colorado.com at that time.
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, 70, said last week that he would not seek re-election to a third term in a surprise announcement that came after two hospital visits for stress-related heartburn.
Owens won re-election in 2002 with 65 percent of the vote and has been mentioned as a possible cabinet member in a second Bush administration and even as a vice presidential candidate.
GOP Congressman Scott McInnis, long interested in the Senate, said that if he decides to run, he won't be deterred no matter who is in the race.
Other potential Republican candidates include Rep. Tom Tancredo, Rep. Bob Beauprez and Rep. Marilyn Musgrave.
Democratic Congressman Mark Udall is reconsidering an earlier decision not to run.
Democratic Congresswoman Diana DeGette is also thinking about seeking the Senate seat. Spokesman Josh Freed said she will make a decision soon.
Attorney General Ken Salazar, also a Democrat, told The Pueblo Chieftain last week that he is contemplating a Senate bid.
Last year, it was reported that in 1970, after Tancredo's student deferments ran out, he appealed his 1-A draft status, which would have put him at the top of the list for draft eligibility during the Vietnam War.
Tancredo said he didn't remember it that way. But he said he was given a 1-Y status, which put him at the bottom of the list, when he reported that he had been treated for mental illness as a teenager.
I would be very wary of Owens. I voted for him twice, but I held my nose the second time. He's a pretty face who presents him self well, but I believe he has issues just under the surface that would make him a bad risk for the GOP in 2008.
Colorado has a complicated issue regarding its budget and various incompatible state amendments. It's a real mess that needs to be addressed, but Owens has shown zero leadership even though it's a train wreck for Colorado if nothing is done. I believe he much prefers to take high profile stances on "easy" issues while avoiding the real problems a leader (like GWB) will take on. Owens loves to appoint commissions to look into things -- like the current flap over CU football.
Owens is stubborn and has a mean streak that doesn't jibe with his public personna. He's appointed some real incompetents to state posts that make me wonder about his jugdement.
He's quite popular in Colorado, but I would be surprised if he could survive the scrutiny of a national presdential run. Frankly, I was hoping he would move on to the Senate where his genuinely conservative views could be useful despite his weaknesses. To be honest, I hadn't heard the "Clinton problem" rumors until I read this thread.
On the Senate topic, I think Salazar would have the best chance to win for the 'rats. For some reason, the usual troop of Denver/Boulder wackos seems to be sitting this one out. I doubt if Tancredo would even survive the primary. He just carries too much baggage. The Republicans mentioned in this thread by other FR Coloradoans can win, but none of them have the name recognition that Owens has.
Elway for Senator? An easy win two or three years ago, but he's had some business troubles (who hasn't?) and has gone through a divorce. Elway is the best quarterback I ever saw. He has an almost pathelogical drive to win. I'm not sure how he would fit in with the current crop of GOP Senators, to whom winning seems to be well down on the list of priorities. I think Elway would be a great governor, and if politics is in his future, I hope he holds his fire until '06 when Owens is term-limited out.
Son of Morris from AZ, I believe. Mark is a great big RAT as well.
As far as Owens, right now he needs to settle his marital issues. Still a possible candidate for '08 though. But he does have some down sides, RKBA is one.
I wish we could pick up Udalls seat. Not much chance I guess, Polerice or whatever his name is has a lot of money to back his run and I hear he is running for it. Another Boulder far left rat.
That story was shown to be a fraud, as you should expect coming from the Denver Post. Obviously I am biased since he was my rep until just recently, but I think he is right on the money except that supports guest worker programs. It seems everyone supports the fraudulent guest worker programs even if they have a problem with illegal aliens and/or overimmigration.
Lay off me. I have no interest in anything you have to say.
Mental illness covers a broad spectrum and the use of the term is intended to make what happened sound worse.
Here's what Tom was treated for. Tancredo said he was diagnosed with depression when he was 16 or 17 and received medication for five years for panic attacks and bouts of anxiety and depression.
Tom Tancredo is not a loser, he's a winner. He also supports the reelection of PresBush and he stands with the majority of American's when it comes to rejecting amnesty and open borders. Your tirade against Tancredo is typical for someone who doesn't know the man's political record at all.
I don't know who will win the GOP nomination. The choice of who will run for Campbell's senate seat will be left to the GOP voters of Colorado. In the recent past my fellow Coloradan's have done a good job of electing more and more conservatives to office. I expect that trend to continue.
Btw, Tom McClintock is a conservative Republican who I supported in the recall campaign. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a liberal RINO. Don't try to Californicate Colorado.
Link, please.
In addition to that, El Paso County is in a bit of a mess itself and anyone who has to work with our present county commissioners definitely knows that.
Yes, I know what the newspaper situation is here and the gap between the liberal rag and the Gazette isn't that big anymore.
As far as the TABOR/Amendment 23 budget mess, I've seen no leadership whatsoever from Owens on resolving this. If this isn't fixed, the Colorado State budget will gradually be given to over to Colorado school districts, which need more money like Bill Gates does. Maybe you see Owens taking a leading role in resolving this, but I sure dont.
It's my understanding that this is still in the discussion stage and we will be seeing some policy on it before long. The best solution would be to repeal 23 but that may not be possible. I'm afraid that we will end up with a revision of Tabor instead. Either way, we will probably need an election to resolve it.
I agree that the governor needs to set the course for this and I believe he will.
Beyond that, we need to do something about the constitutional process in Colorado. Our state constitution should never be amended for things like 23.
I've seen no evidence of a mean streak in the governor but that probably depends on individual views. Stubborness is not always a bad thing. Remember how much stubborness it took to get some accountability in the Colorado school system?
Good for Romer. Did he lose?
Why didn't you contest a single thing I wrote and sourced?
Lay off me. I have no interest in anything you have to say.
You asked me for a link at 25!
Talk about character. No wonder you support Tom. Shameless.
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