PPC already has reported to my great disappointment and astonishment that Josh Penry has decided to withdraw from the Colorado governor’s race. Penry’s friend and former state representative Rob Witwer followed a few moments ago with a short statement:
Josh did an outstanding job framing the debate and articulating the need for change. He raised the level of Republican campaigns in Colorado, and for that he deserves a huge amount of credit. He leaves behind a winning playbook that should help Scott McInnis achieve victory next November.
But more to the story emerges from behind the scenes on this MSNBC report:
A campaign source says that up-and-comer Josh Penry decided against a CO-GOV primary challenge against Scott McInnis, his former boss when McInnis was in Congress, because he was scared off, in part, by a 527 that was ramping up for McInnis that was set to go after Penry. He is sitting out the 2010 cycle and is NOT running for CO-3 despite the rumors….
The source added that Penry’s Name ID, they were seeing, was only about 15% to 20% statewide, and Penry felt that a 527 and a nasty political fight could have ruined or significantly damaged his reputation and hurt his political capital with Republicans. This path helps Penry, who’s only 33, build up political capital, the source said.
Sounds to me like the equivalent of political blackmail from Scott McInnis’ hit team. Here’s the irony: One candidate had decided to start talking about party unity. Another one dropped out in the actual hopes of preserving party unity. You can guess which one wins my respect.
See also Marc Ambinder’s ruminations in The Atlantic.
All in all, I’m sick to my stomach right now.
Indeed, Josh ran a positive campaign and I enjoyed getting to know him over the last several months. I have heard loud and clear across the state, of which I have travelled almost 40K miles over the last 7 months, that grass roots Coloradans are absolutely ready for new leadership that will work for them. I stand ready to take any heat that comes my way. Now, will you stand by me and do the same?
I’m disappointed that Penry had to drop out of the race. In fact, ditto to all you said, Ben. The negative campaigning worked against Sarah Palin, thus helping to tarnish her national image (when the image from afar was quite positive). I’d hate to see the same happen to Penry.
It is, indeed, unfortunate that Josh Penry is dropping out of the gubernatorial race. It is, indeed, disheartening that Josh is dropping out because McInnis 527 thugs threatened to destroy him. This is Chicago thug style politics. Was McInnis a community organizer when he was in Washington, D.C.?
There is something grossly wrong with a system that allows outside interests to control local politics. The grassroots is crushed by out of state big pockets.
There oughta be a law…
Guys, this sort of thing, real or rumor, is a part of every major campaign. Josh and his team have been around long enough to have expected it. The odds are very much against Josh having been scared out of the race for the reasons mentioned here thus far.
And you have a better reason? And you think it’s something we should stand by and tolerate? Sorry, not me….
Who in particular was backing the 527?
Does Maes have any merit as a candidate?
I’m pretty skeptical of McInnis, and his spokesman Sean Duffy sure didn’t care about “party unity” in his attacks on Republicans critical of that homosexual domestic partnerships measure in 2006.
It’s actually quite relaxing to sit out a major election in which candidates are of dubious quality. Perhaps I’ll do that in 2010.
I would just like to congratulate Governor Ritter on winning his second term as the Republicans have proven they don’t get it. We would not vote for the party-annointed when it was Coors, Beauprez or McCain. And we will not do it for McInnis. What do all these people have in common? (Hint: They are not conservative and they all lost). Congratulations again, Gov Ritter!