Frankly, all this "thank you for your service to our country" BS is getting a little tired. Anyone who has served in the military knows that the services are replete with foul-ups and clymers (from General to Private). The fact that one has or has not served in the military offers no real gauge for potential success in the political arena.
As for Tancredo himelf, he is a tough campaigner, and he is taking-on the illegal immigration issue when no one else will; he would probably defeat Coffman, or anyone else, that takes him on -- regardless of what Rove or Bush do.