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Tancredo’s Romney Endorsement Suggests Future Political Plans

As expected, Rep. Tancredo officially has bowed out of the presidential race, and is endorsing not Fred Thompson but Mitt Romney. Since Romney is favored by many of the state's leading Republicans, this tells me that Tancredo has his eye on running for office again in 2010. Conventional wisdom is that he will plan to take on Senator Ken Salazar. How far Tancredo's endorsement of Romney will go in corralling the necessary support for a Senate campaign remains to be seen. But it certainly cannot hurt. … [Read more...]

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Whom Will Tancredo Endorse?

Having fostered strong support for greater border security among the field of Republican presidential candidates but long having trailed in the back of the pack, Colorado's own Rep. Tom Tancredo is expected to announce today that he will bow out of the race for the White House. I think it's pretty clear that the Congressman's next political focus is on a 2010 U.S. Senate matchup against Ken Salazar, but what about the 2008 race before us? One big question remains: Whom will Tancredo endorse a mere two weeks out of the Iowa caucuses? My two cents worth to Tancredo, the former president of the Independence Institute: Why not give the nod to Fred Thompson, a strong and optimistic conservative leader in the mold of Ronald Reagan who … [Read more...]

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Relief in Iowa: Huck Slipping, Fred Poised for Successful Showing

Good news in the Republican presidential race out of Iowa: the Huckster is fading, and the expectations game keeps Fred at a low enough profile to gear up for a strong third-place finish in the Hawkeye State:On the Republican side, among (833) likely voters, here are the numbers: Huckabee 28, Romney 25, Thompson 10, McCain 9, Paul 6, Giuliani 6. Among (418) highly likely voters, Romney leads with 28%, then Huckabee 25, Thompson 11, McCain 7, Paul 6, Giuliani 5, Tancredo 4. Plus there appear to be true signs of Fred-mentum (and here I thought I'd coined the phrase) after all. … [Read more...]

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Another Big Thumbs Up to Fred

Pejman Yousefzadeh (PJ, for short) over at Red State writes an eloquent endorsement for Fred Thompson to be our next President (H/T El Presidente). Let me officially second his statement:Many writers, in praising Thompson, have indicated that one of the more laudable things about his candidacy is that he is more interested in doing something than he is in being somebody. This is true. Ambition is a good thing to have but far too many politicians make ambition an end in and of itself. For Thompson, ambition is a means to an end--a means to implementing the policy positions he and other Reagan Republicans care about so deeply. That having been written, Thompson owes it to his supporters to vigorously campaign for the Presidency of the United … [Read more...]

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The Time for a Fred Comeback Would Be Now

Erick at Red State charts a path for Fred Thompson's tired campaign to come back and make a surprising resurgence. And let me tell you, I'd be pleased to see him do it. If Colorado's caucus were held today, Fred would get my vote. The most recent Rasmussen results show the Centennial State is a wide open playing field for Republican candidates, as a lot of GOP members like myself are adopting a wait-and-see attitude:Which of the following Republican candidates is most in tune with the attitudes and needs of Colorado? 19% John McCain. 14% Rudy Giuliani 14% Fred Thompson 12% Ron Paul 9% Mike Huckabee 8% Mitt Romney 16% None of the above 8% Not sure So here's hoping Fred has really found his stride. Today's … [Read more...]

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Huckabee Surge is Bad News for Serious, Coherent Conservatives

I have written little here about the Presidential campaign. While I have no horse in the race, I do have some clear opinions and preferences. For the most part I've been sitting back and watching things unfold as the frontrunners vie for my support. However, the recent overpublicized "Huckabee Surge" has stirred me from my silence. That's because the thought that the former Arkansas governor and would-be Preacher-in-Chief could actually secure the Republican nomination is quite disturbing. Largely well known has been Huckabee's very apparent fiscal liberalism and economic populism. The problem is about more than taxes and spending - his positions on trade, regulation, and school choice leave a lot wanting, as well. (Not to mention … [Read more...]

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Unexpected Thanksgiving Wishes from (Candidate?) Armstrong

I haven't commented much on the Republican primary in Colorado's 6th Congressional District, but I wrote in a post two weeks ago:The primary race for the safe Republican seat now appears to be mainly between Coffman and State Senator Ted Harvey. I've been aware of the word on the street (and in the press) that Wil Armstrong, son of former U.S. Senator Bill Armstrong, was interested in throwing his hat into the ring. But not having sources that could confirm any activity coming from that corner, I didn't give attention to his candidacy. Until yesterday, that is, when I received a Thanksgiving card from the Wil Armstrong family with a friendly message on the inside and a family portrait on the front. Nothing overtly political about the … [Read more...]

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Polis Trip to Iraq Could Spice Up CD-2 Primary

Liberal Democrat and Colorado Congressional candidate Jared Polis, with whom I frequently disagree on this blog, is to be commended for deciding to take a look at what's going on in Iraq himself:Polis, former chairman of the state education board, is leaving today to spend a week with relief agencies, Iraqi civilians and two deployed Colorado lawmakers. Polis said the point of the trip is to "get a broader picture of what's going on" in Iraq, not "hold a large turkey for photo ops." Contrast Polis' apparent open-minded with the self-blinding attitude of his chief Democrat primary opponent, who typify the Left's talking points that dominate with their party in Congress:Fitz-Gerald's campaign said the trip isn't necessary. "The facts … [Read more...]

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Coffman In, Wiens Out

Pertaining to the Republican race to replace Tom Tancredo in the 6th Congressional District, my earlier observations were confirmed: Secretary of State Mike Coffman indeed is in, and State Senator Tom Wiens is out (from a press release mailed out this morning): Colorado state Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock, announced today that he will seek re-election to a second term in the Colorado State Senate and will not be a candidate for the sixth congressional seat being vacated by retiring Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo. "I believe I can have a more positive impact on the future of Colorado by continuing to serve in the State Senate than by being a member of Congress," Wiens said. "This has become even more clear to me given the events of … [Read more...]