Tom Tancredo |
DENVER - If former congressman Tom Tancredo enters the Colorado gubernatorial race as a third-party candidate, he would essentially "hand the election" to Denver mayor John Hickenlooper, Colorado's top Republican said Friday.
State GOP chairman Dick Wadhams appeared on FOX31 News and KWGN to express anger and disappointment with Tancredo's threat to run for governor if the current Republican candidates, Scott McInnis and Dan Maes, don't drop out.
"I honestly can't believe he's doing this right now," Wadhams said. "By creating this false choice that they have to get out now or I get in, is nothing more than Tom following his own ambition."
Tancredo issued the ultimatum Thursday, arguing that McInnis and Maes are not viable candidates.
McInnis, a former U.S. congressman, has been reeling since reports surfaced that he plagiarized work in a series of articles he authored for a foundation in 2004. Maes, an Evergreen businessman, is considered by many to lack the experience to win a statewide election against the well-known Denver mayor.
The Republican primary is Aug. 10.
"This situation is unacceptable to me, and I am sure, to thousands of other Colorado Republicans, Independents and other Colorado voters whose hopes for a change to a smaller and fiscally responsible government in Colorado in November now seem dashed," Tancredo said in a statement.
Maes issued a statement Friday saying he will not step aside.
"This is an arrogant and absurd position for Tom to take but it is certainly his right to do so. I will not step down from this race at anytime, period." Maes declared. "Tom thinks I am unelectable because of some bad press. If he actually has the courage enough to step into the arena I suspect he too will get some bad press." Maes claimed.
Wadhams calls Tancredo's threat "a joke."
"He's being very dishonest with the people of Colorado right now," Wadhams told FOX31 News. "He would not take one vote away from John Hickenlooper."
"Let the primary occur. Let the winner decide if they're viable or not and if they want step aside or not, and that would allow the Colorado Republican Party to select a new candidate if that happened."
"Dick Wadhams is doing what he should do," Tancredo responded. "But if he thinks it's a joke, he won't be laughing long."
Tancredo, who has twice ran for president as what he calls a "beau geste", a symbolic gesture to highlight the issue of illegal immigration more than it was a serious candidacy, said he'd be getting into the governor's race with the intent to do what Wadhams said he cannot -- win.
"In three-way race, you only need a plurality of votes, not a majority," Tancredo said. "I have more of a chance of winning in a three-way race than either Scott McInnis or Dan Maes does in a two-way race."
Tancredo hinted that he has a plan: winning votes from the far right based on his reputation as a hard-liner on illegal immigration, and winning votes from the left by highlighting his commitment to an issue many liberals hold dear.
Tancredo plans to campaign in favor of legalizing marijuana.
"I have come out more than once in favor or legalization," Tancredo said. "So there are things that give me some hope."
State GOP chairman Dick Wadhams appeared on FOX31 News and KWGN to express anger and disappointment with Tancredo's threat to run for governor if the current Republican candidates, Scott McInnis and Dan Maes, don't drop out.
"I honestly can't believe he's doing this right now," Wadhams said. "By creating this false choice that they have to get out now or I get in, is nothing more than Tom following his own ambition."
Tancredo issued the ultimatum Thursday, arguing that McInnis and Maes are not viable candidates.
McInnis, a former U.S. congressman, has been reeling since reports surfaced that he plagiarized work in a series of articles he authored for a foundation in 2004. Maes, an Evergreen businessman, is considered by many to lack the experience to win a statewide election against the well-known Denver mayor.
The Republican primary is Aug. 10.
"This situation is unacceptable to me, and I am sure, to thousands of other Colorado Republicans, Independents and other Colorado voters whose hopes for a change to a smaller and fiscally responsible government in Colorado in November now seem dashed," Tancredo said in a statement.
Maes issued a statement Friday saying he will not step aside.
"This is an arrogant and absurd position for Tom to take but it is certainly his right to do so. I will not step down from this race at anytime, period." Maes declared. "Tom thinks I am unelectable because of some bad press. If he actually has the courage enough to step into the arena I suspect he too will get some bad press." Maes claimed.
Wadhams calls Tancredo's threat "a joke."
"He's being very dishonest with the people of Colorado right now," Wadhams told FOX31 News. "He would not take one vote away from John Hickenlooper."
"Let the primary occur. Let the winner decide if they're viable or not and if they want step aside or not, and that would allow the Colorado Republican Party to select a new candidate if that happened."
"Dick Wadhams is doing what he should do," Tancredo responded. "But if he thinks it's a joke, he won't be laughing long."
Tancredo, who has twice ran for president as what he calls a "beau geste", a symbolic gesture to highlight the issue of illegal immigration more than it was a serious candidacy, said he'd be getting into the governor's race with the intent to do what Wadhams said he cannot -- win.
"In three-way race, you only need a plurality of votes, not a majority," Tancredo said. "I have more of a chance of winning in a three-way race than either Scott McInnis or Dan Maes does in a two-way race."
Tancredo hinted that he has a plan: winning votes from the far right based on his reputation as a hard-liner on illegal immigration, and winning votes from the left by highlighting his commitment to an issue many liberals hold dear.
Tancredo plans to campaign in favor of legalizing marijuana.
"I have come out more than once in favor or legalization," Tancredo said. "So there are things that give me some hope."
