UN bicycle conspiracy theorist Dan Maes, the Republican nominee for governor in Colorado, is trying to go mainstream Republican. He succeeded a tiny bit, with a couple of establishment endorsements. On the other hand, he picked another teabagger sympathizer to be his running mate. Tambor Williams is a former state legislator and one of his earliest supporters.
In naming her, he gave this ringing endorsement of his own candidacy: "She brings the political experience to the table that I lack." That's confidence-inspiring, huh? That could be one of the reasons why the Republican Governors Association seems inclined to sit this one out.
Two Colorado Republicans with knowledge of the Republican Governors Association's plans said Tuesday that the political committee has decided not to bankroll television and other ads supporting GOP gubernatorial hopeful Dan Maes....
With Tom Tancredo expected to draw conservative voters away from the nominee, the group will put its money into other competitive races.
Meanwhile, moderate Republicans do seemingly still exist in Colorado. Or at least, Republicans who can't stomach Maes or Tancredo. Three prominent business leaders, one being the former chairman of U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign in Colorado, have announced their support of Dem John Hickenlooper.
So he's lost the RGA, he's losing big-money Republicans (who aren't just sitting it out, but are actively trying to defeat him), but at least he'll have the Colorado Republican Party behind him, now that he's the nominee, right? And . . . kinda, sorta.
The chairman of the Colorado Republican Party said Wednesday he presented a proposal to GOP gubernatorial nominee Dan Maes that would have removed former GOP Rep. Tom Tancredo—who’s running on a third-party line—from the governor’s race.
But despite GOP handwringing over Tancredo’s candidacy, Maes declined the offer. Why? It would have required that Maes also drop out of the race....
Pressed for more details on whether Wadhams hoped Maes would accept Tancredo’s offer, the party chairman said his statement spoke for itself.
“I passed along Tom's offer. Dan responded. They're both still running,” Wadhams told POLITICO in an e-mail. “I continue to support Dan Maes for Governor of Colorado."
It was all Tancredo's idea! Wadhams swears he was only passing along Tancredo's suggestion, and that--really--the UN bicycle conspiracy theorist is his guy, all the way.