Republican Scott McInnis dropped out of the 2008 U.S. Senate race Wednesday, leaving Republicans scrambling for a worthy challenger to Democrat Mark Udall in what is billed as the race for the only open Senate seat in the country.
But the Colorado GOP isn’t what it used to be. The bench is shallow, money is scarce, and even party regulars say the battles between conservatives and moderates show no sign of abating.
To make matters worse, the party is suffering waning support nationally from a public tired of war and government scandals.
That’s not to say there aren’t any decent candidates eyeing the seat that Sen. Wayne Allard will vacate – just not any mega-candidates like former Gov. Bill Owens, who has repeatedly said he isn’t interested.
“There is definitely an adjustment period going on,” said Republican strategist Sean Tonner, president of Phaseline Strategies in Denver. “Our bench will be strong in another two years, but there is a slight gap right now. And there’s a big gap on the funding side, and that makes it difficult to find viable candidates.”
Newly elected state GOP head Dick Wadhams, who was drafted to get the party back on track, said he isn’t concerned about the party’s chances in November 2008.
“I have no qualms about fielding an excellent candidate,” he said. “This is a critical seat, and the candidate will be well-funded from national sources as well as those within the state.”
McInnis, who represented the 3rd Congressional District for six terms, said two months ago that “there was no question” he would run for the Senate seat if Allard decided not to seek re-election.
He formed an exploratory committee and began talking to people across the state after Allard announced he would not run for a third term.
McInnis on Wednesday said he decided not to run because it “is right for Colorado, and ultimately what is right for my family.”
Former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer is mulling a run for Allard’s seat and is already backed by former Sen. Bill Armstrong.
Schaffer said Tuesday that McInnis’ taking a pass on the Senate race hasn’t affected his deliberations.
“It doesn’t move me any closer or further from a decision,” he said.
Base vs. the moderates
Schaffer is well-regarded by party activists and the religious right.
However, he is considered by some political observers to be too right of center to win a general election.
In recent years, the GOP has been divided over not only social issues but fiscal matters. Referendums C & D – proposed to solve the budget shortfall in 2005 – left many Republicans upset because they felt the fix wasn’t fiscally disciplined.
“The party is still in a situation where conservatives think the party has abandoned its principles and moderates say ‘no, we’re losing suburban voters because we’re too right,”‘ said Bob Loevy, political science professor at Colorado College.
Radio talk-show host Dan Caplis, who is also eyeing the race, said if Schaffer gets in, he will throw his support behind him. If not, Caplis said, he will jump in.
Also interested are Colorado Attorney General John Suthers and retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Bentley Rayburn from Colorado Springs. Many GOP insiders have also floated former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton as a possibility.
Norton, who is executive director of the Denver Police Foundation, said Wednesday that she is “really happy” at her job.
“But I’ve also learned never to say never,” she said.
A number of up-and- coming Republican state lawmakers, such as Rep. Cory Gardner of Yuma, have also been mentioned, although they are still considered a little green.
“In a typical year, some junior member might theoretically come out of nowhere,” said Denver pollster Floyd Ciruli. “But I don’t see that happening now when Republicans are on defense.”
Staff writer Karen Crummy can be reached at 303-954-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com.
