CONCORD, N.H.—Presidential hopeful Tom Tancredo on Tuesday became the first major candidate to secure a spot on New Hampshire’s primary ballot.
The Colorado congressman and anti-immigration activist made the pilgrimage to the Statehouse, gave Secretary of State Bill Gardner a check for $1,000 and joined the growing list of presidential aspirants.
“Anything can happen in sports and in politics,” said Tancredo, surrounded by a handful of supporters and reporters. “It takes a lot of heart, it takes a lot of guts, it takes a lot of commitment. We have all of that in this campaign, I will tell you.”
Tancredo barely registers in polls in New Hampshire or nationally, but he is hoping his stance on the hot-button issue of immigration will help build support among fellow Republicans. The issue has dogged Sen. John McCain, whose support for a failed immigration plan has hurt his standing among conservatives.
Tancredo also trails in fundraising, a fact he joked about in the second floor office in the Statehouse.
“You sure we have the cash in the bank?” Tancredo said to nervous laughter. “It’s not going to bounce?”
Tancredo slid up to an antique desk all presidential candidates use to put their name on the ballot. He borrowed a disposable black Bic pen to sign the one-page form.
“Wow. Just to write it down. ‘Candidate for nomination for the office of president of the United States.’ That’s pretty heady stuff,” Tancredo said.
On the desk, above his form was an anti-war pamphlet that he seemed not to notice. After completing the form, Tancredo offered a brief version of his stump speech denouncing lax immigration standards and weak political will.
“This is an attack on our very culture that is going on as a result of the fact that Washington, the president of the United States, in particular, and this administration and prior administrations have been AWOL on this issue. It’s dangerous,” Tancredo said. “I’m going to do what I can to stop them from pandering, which is exactly what’s been going on time and time again.”
Tancredo said his rivals shift their message based on the audience, something he called unacceptable.
“Which other candidate will address this issue, this cult of multiculturalism, the effects it’s going to have on our society and our culture?” Tancredo said.
