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| Rep. Tom Tancredo |
Libertarians, Entrepreneurs, and Moral Traditionalists have had a mixed history of finding common values, in many parts of the U.S., but in Colorado, there have been some scuffles which proved paralyzing.
Perhaps the 2010 Colorado governor's race can teach conservative activists an important lesson.
The results left the Republican party in life-support and barely recognized as a political party. The Mile High conservatives overwelmingly switched to the Constitution Party, in 2010.
Colorado has been a presidential swing state since 1992, when Bill Clinton captured it's electoral votes in his defeat of Bush. Every statewide race is now watched by national political operatives and think-tanks. Winning the governor's race is a key objective for parties who wish to win the White House two years later.
The Colorado Republican Party has largely devoured itself, in 2010. Karl Rove may have more to do with the splinter than anyone else. Rove 'black-balled' Tancredo from any White House support or inclusion, and vowed to seek Tancredo's personal political defeat through withheld funding and primary opposition. That threat demonstrated itself in Tancredo's 2008 presidential campaign, where Rove worked behind the scene to thwart any momentum for Tancredo. Tancredo bowed out just weeks prior to Iowa's caucus.
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| Republicans won only 2 counties, in 2010 |
The Colorado Republican Party has largely devoured itself, in 2010. Karl Rove may have more to do with the splinter than anyone else. Rove 'black-balled' Tancredo from any White House support or inclusion, and vowed to seek Tancredo's personal political defeat through withheld funding and primary opposition. That threat demonstrated itself in Tancredo's 2008 presidential campaign, where Rove worked behind the scene to thwart any momentum for Tancredo. Tancredo bowed out just weeks prior to Iowa's caucus.
But Tom is back in the Colorado Republican party, this time... but on his own terms. Colorado party rules give the state Republican assembly a role in forming the primary ballot, but candidates can go around that endorsing system through a petition drive. Despite leading all major polls, Tancredo will not submit his fortunes to the party machine. His petition drive has placed Tancredo in the primary election and he leads all the scientific polls, consistently.
Was Dan Maes the "spoiler" in 2010? Every dynamic indicator says that he was. The Constitutional Party was the clear 2010 choice of Colorado conservatives. Maes is no longer a factor in the governor's race. Many have criticized Maes for not bowing out and supporting Tancredo. But Republican party bosses needed at least 10% in the governor's election in order to keep their state "major party" status for future elections.
Some will say; "The Democrat exceeded 50% of the vote and therefore no one was a true spoiler.". That is not the dynamic reality of political science, however. Much of the 2010 general election was distracted by Maes & Tancredo debating issues which should have been a primary election dialogue. Very little was said about the liberal Democrat's controversial positions. Conservatives were left frustrated and unmotivated to get out the vote.
Hopefully, the Colorado Republican leadership will continue to rebuff Karl Rove's personal vendetta obsessions and let a fair process decide the elections.
Was Dan Maes the "spoiler" in 2010? Every dynamic indicator says that he was. The Constitutional Party was the clear 2010 choice of Colorado conservatives. Maes is no longer a factor in the governor's race. Many have criticized Maes for not bowing out and supporting Tancredo. But Republican party bosses needed at least 10% in the governor's election in order to keep their state "major party" status for future elections.
Some will say; "The Democrat exceeded 50% of the vote and therefore no one was a true spoiler.". That is not the dynamic reality of political science, however. Much of the 2010 general election was distracted by Maes & Tancredo debating issues which should have been a primary election dialogue. Very little was said about the liberal Democrat's controversial positions. Conservatives were left frustrated and unmotivated to get out the vote.
Hopefully, the Colorado Republican leadership will continue to rebuff Karl Rove's personal vendetta obsessions and let a fair process decide the elections.
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