RE/MAX Co-Founder Rejects Run For Senate

The Denver Channel ^ | April 5, 2004 | Denver Channel

[Columbine]

DENVER -- Real estate magnate Dave Liniger said Monday he will not run for the U.S. Senate, leaving former Rep. Bob Schaffer the Republican front-runner for the seat being given up by GOP Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

"I have spent a great deal of time over the last two weeks exploring the possibility of serving Colorado," he said. "But, after much reflection, I have decided not to run."

Liniger, who co-founded the RE/MAX realty chain, was out of state and unavailable for further comment, company spokesman Bill Echols said.

Last week, Liniger met with members of the Colorado congressional delegation and said he was impressed.

"However, I realize that at this time the lifestyle dictated for our elected officials is not what's best for my family or my company," he said. The political newcomer said he wants to spend time in Colorado, not Washington.

[Columbine]

Good News.

Senator Campbell was thought to be going to endorse this guy. I wonder if he will finally endorse Schaffer now.

The Democrat Salazar is considered to be ahead in this race.

[republicanwizard]

oh damn...this makes me ill...

Shaffer is a disaster waiting to happen...

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[republicanwizard]

I'm crying too buddy...

[republicanwizard]

Yeah, by 15 points. And Shaffer is very much an unknown statewide and in the expensive advertising markets.

Perhaps Pataki can raise a couple million bucks for him in NYC, but Shaffer strikes me as the pigheaded type who won't listen to anyone.

[OneTimeLurker]

I got a feeling this is going to be a Donkey pickup too.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Shaffer is a disaster waiting to happen..."

---

Why do you say that? Congressman Schaffer compiled a solid conservative record in the House, just like his predecessor Wayne Allard. I don't see why Republicans are so quick to cut and run from Schaffer.

Schaffer, Toomey and Coburn are three Congressmen who lived up to their term-limits pledges, and now are seeking a Senate seat. I personally believe that term-limits are a bad idea, but those three gentlemen have already shown that their principles are more important than selfish political concerns, and I think that will help them with general-election voters in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma, respectively.

[republicanwizard]

I'm aware of that article from which your arguments originate. I'm not impressed.

[republicanwizard]

I have a feeling that we will hold Oklahoma. Coburn or Humphreys can do the job, the former especially. Even Alaska will likely be a GOP hold.

However I don't see how Shaffer wins this one. How does one drive up his negatives?

[republicanwizard]

I have a feeling that we will hold Oklahoma. Coburn or Humphreys can do the job, the former especially. Even Alaska will likely be a GOP hold.

However I don't see how Shaffer wins this one. How does one drive up salazar's negatives?

[Columbine]

How about a list of Shaffer's negatives?

[republicanwizard]

His style, his lack of visibility, his reputed animosity toward party leaders.

Owens wasn't exactly tripping over himself to support Shaffer.

Is there any chance that Gail Norton will run? Now she'd win.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"I'm aware of that article from which your arguments originate. I'm not impressed."

---

Mr. Wizard, could you please send me a link to the article from whence you claim my arguments came? I'd like to read it to make sure that I don't misrepresent those arguments.

"Do not pay attention to that man behind the curtain." Sounds like good advice to me.

[republicanwizard]

The article was in a conservative journal and discussed how conservatives unhappy with President Bush could support these three men who would turn the Senate on its head.

I'm not impressed by Republicans thinking that running anti-Bush republicans will get us far.

[Nightbird]

Man, why is everyone dogging Bob? Are we so zealous in pursuit of Senate seats with an (R) next to them that we are pining for a real estate salesman with a public policy record amounting to zero?

Bob is 100% pro-life, good on the RKBA, pro Right to Work, fiscal conservative. He ably represented the 4th CD before stepping down as he promised.

What you say? Someone from the 4th (eastern plains) can't win statewide? I guess that's true. Oh yeah, there's that Wayne Allard guy who used to represent the 4th. He beat a well-funded moderate Democrat twice. But that's it, right? Oh yeah, there's that Hank Brown guy...he used to represent the 4th...he won statewide in 1990.

So Bob doesn't kiss ass with the GOP establishment types. Frankly, that gets him more points in my book. This should be a fun race, and I like our chances.

[3AngelaD]

I think you're entirely too pessimistic. Republicans can keep that seat and elect Schaffer if they work together and raise the money needed for the race. One advantage they have now is the tendency of the Denver media, etc. to underestimate Schaffer and overestimate Salazar, just like they sneered at Wayne Allard the first time, only to be surprised, and then allowed themselves to be persuade by wishful thinking the second time -- only to be surprised again by the same outcome AGAINST THE SAME OPPONENT.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"I'm not impressed by Republicans thinking that running anti-Bush republicans will get us far."

---

So Schaffer and Toomey are anti-Bush now? And somehow we're supposed to believe that Specter is pro-Bush? Give me a break.

[Columbine]

As far as I know Gail Norton isn't going to run.

I think that Owens is looking for money for the party and therefore they courted this real estate magnate who was reportedly a lot less than conservative.

Do you prefer RINOs?

[republicanwizard]

"real estate salesman with a public policy record amounting to zero?"

Yes, you've got it. Just as our two great presidents of modern times had zero experience before running for Governor.

"Bob is 100% pro-life, good on the RKBA, pro Right to Work, fiscal conservative. He ably represented the 4th CD before stepping down as he promised."

Good for him. With the exception of the last part, that describes most Republican congressmen from the South and West.

"What you say? Someone from the 4th (eastern plains) can't win statewide? I guess that's true. Oh yeah, there's that Wayne Allard guy who used to represent the 4th."

He won in 1996. The Denver market was not as expensive then. Moreover Salazar is no Boulder liberal.

"So Bob doesn't kiss ass with the GOP establishment types."

If I liked that type of guy, I'd support John McCain.

[Columbine]

Right on!

I've already signed on the Shaffer campaign and hope everyone else will too.