McInnis, Tancredo Not Running For Senate [Colorado]

The Denver Channel.com ^ | 3/12/04 | N/A

[BlackRazor]

McInnis, Tancredo Not Running For Senate

Republicans Have No High-Profile Candidate

POSTED: 8:06 am MST March 12, 2004 UPDATED: 8:46 am MST March 12, 2004

DENVER -- Colorado Rep. Scott McInnis announced Friday that he is not running for Senate, leaving the GOP struggling for a high-profile candidate to try to replace Republican Ben Nighthorse Campbell who is stepping down this fall after serving two terms.

Several other Republicans including Gov. Bill Owens, Rep. Bob Beauprez, state Treasurer Mike Coffman and Rep. Tom Tancredo announced this week that they will not run for the open seat.

On the Democratic side, state Attorney General Ken Salazar is the biggest name in the race so far. In fact Rep. Mark Udall and millionaire Rutt Bridges bowed out of the race on Wednesday to support him.

McInnis said Friday that he will join the Denver law firm of Hogan and Hartson after his fifth term in the House ends in January. Coincidentally, the managing partner of that law firm is Tom Strickland, a former Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. Strickland lost a close race to Wayne Allard in November 2002.

"My decision not to run for the Senate comes after much soul-searching with my family, friends and supporters," McInnis said. "I can assure you this was among the most difficult choices I have ever had to make."

Tancredo also announced Friday that instead of running for Senate, he will run for re-election to his House district in the southern and western suburbs of Denver. He said he can best achieve his goals by staying in the House.

"The people of the 6th District elected me to serve as their congressman, and that's exactly what I plan to do," Tancredo said.

So far, there is no declared Republican candidate for the race but the names that still have the biggest potential are former Rep. Bob Schaffer and Lt. Gov. Jane Norton.

Salazar is one of his party's brightest hopes of retaking the majority in the U.S. Senate.

Colorado's Senate seat was seen as safe for the GOP when heavily favored Campbell was in the running, but it's now a focal point for the national parties as they battle for control. Republicans hold a 51-48 majority with one Democrat-leaning Independent.

Many political observers had expected Salazar to run for governor when the term-limited Owens steps down in 2006 but he said the same issues that interested him in the governor's office are behind his run for the Senate.

"I care a lot about our natural resources and about the beauty of Colorado," Salazar said.

He wrote the constitutional amendment that created Great Outdoors Colorado, which uses state Lottery funds for parks, trails, open space and recreation, and was the program's first chairman.

"Our quality of life is very much dependent on our being able to maintain our natural heritage," Salazar said.

El Paso County educator and former Army Ranger Mike Miles, Boulder lawyer Larry Johnson and Denver lawyer Brad Freedberg are the other Democrats in the race but Salazar remains the heavyweight in the contest.

[BlackRazor]

FYI

[BlackRazor]

FYI

[TheBigB]

Christ on a cracker. The GOP has the CO Governor's chair, both Senate seats, and most of the Congressional Delegation, and we can't get one big name to run? What about ex-Atty General Gail Norton?

[Coop]

Bob Schaffer Looms Large as Colorado Senate Nominee

[CasearianDaoist]

What is going on out there? What are they all afraid of?

[adam_az]

AUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


:(

[cosine]

Go Bob Schaffer!

[Coop]

I agree, the Dems have got to be considered the underdogs for now.

[JohnnyZ]

Very interesting. Looks like it'll be Schaffer, or possibly the Lt Gov., but most likely Schaffer. Didn't he succeed Allard in the House?

[Columbine]

Thanks for the ping. I was working on something this morning and hadn't heard the state news.

Shaeffer will be all right. I'll have to learn how to spell his name now.

[Tall_Texan]

Strange to see so many choosing NOT to run for this seat, particularly given the narrow margin in the Senate. Any FReepers willing to step up and run for the office? Anyone?

[HostileTerritory]

This is insane! The Colorado Senate race is turning into our version of Georgia.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Looks like it'll be Schaffer, or possibly the Lt Gov., but most likely Schaffer."

---

Schaffer could be a strong candidate, albeit not as strong as McInnis would have been. Hopefully, "good enough" will be good enough in 2004.

What has Schaffer been doing since he left the House in January of 2003?

[swampfox98]

Tancredo also announced Friday that instead of running for Senate, he will run for re-election to his House district in the southern and western suburbs of Denver. He said he can best achieve his goals by staying in the House.

I wish he'd run for president and achieve some of the conservatives' goals, before the country is taken over by the illegals.

[Clintonfatigued]

The Republican establishment seems to be rallying around Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton. She has great potential appeal. She is attractive and articulate, and can count on sufficient funding. Most of her experience is administrative rather than elective, but her lack of record on ideological issues could make her a tough target. Her husband, Mike Norton, ran for Congress in the 2nd. district in 1984 and 1986, and then became U.S. Attorney for Colorado in the Bush administration.

[Kuksool]

{AUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

I second that.

[KQQL]

Looks like it will be Shaffer v Salazar unless
Jim N -EX RNC Chiarman runs