Colorado Senate 2008: Schaffer denies he's running

[Adlai Stevenson]

http://www.coloradopols.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=B4FE0F642581A1AE54DBF6C7F7A34774?diaryId=3222

Does this strike you as a little odd? Yesterday, we cited a Hill article stating that former Congressman Bob Schaffer had already announced his intention to run for Senate, based on statements made by Teller County GOP officials who attended his speech at their Lincoln Day dinner last weekend.

Today's Fort Collins Coloradoan, however, quotes Schaffer denying everything:

    Former Congressman Bob Schaffer made his long-expected Senate announcement during the weekend in tiny Teller County. Or maybe he didn't.

    "He was invited as our speaker (at a Republican dinner) and said he had decided to run and that a formal announcement would follow but that he wanted us to be the first ones to know," said Mark Sievers, the chairman of the Teller Republican Central Committee who was among the 100 people who attended.

    "I think Bob has been thinking about a run for a long time and maybe he decided on his way down that this was the right time and place to do it." [Pols emphasis]

    Schaffer said he hasn't announced whether he'll be a candidate to replace Sen. Wayne Allard, in Teller County or elsewhere.

    "I have not announced a candidacy or campaign and if and when there is one, I will announce it at the appropriate time," the Fort Collins resident said Thursday.

Two possibilities:

1. Schaffer regrets having kicked off his campaign in this clumsy zero-fanfare manner, and is trying to regain control of his message. (Updated: important FEC angle as well)

2. Schaffer hasn't decided if he's going to run.

Actually, there's only one possibility, which is of course the former -- unless these Teller County GOP officials who have absolutely no reason to lie and were very specific about what Schaffer purportedly said to them...are lying.

Schaffer may regret the timing and setting of his announcement, but now that it's out he needs to go ahead and own up to it. Implying these presumably innocent fellow Republicans are dishonest over his own slip-up is not the way to start a Senate campaign.
Colorado Pols :: Schaffer: Teller County GOP Officials Lied

[Alcon]

based on statements made by Teller County GOP officials who attended his speech at their Lincoln Day dinner last weekend

This is the last damn time I trust those Park County-bordering bastards.

[Keystone Phil]

Good. Get Bill Owens to run. Please.

[SPC]

Good. Get Bill Owens to run. Please.

Sorry, but he's not running, unfortunately.

[Aizen]

Good. Get Bill Owens to run. Please.

Sorry, but he's not running, fortunately.

[SPC]

Good. Get Bill Owens to run. Please.

Sorry, but he's not running, fortunately.

Did you just make that post just to disagree with me?

[Keystone Phil]

Is Owens definetley not going to be a candidate?

[SPC]

Is Owens definetley not going to be a candidate?

Yes. He's about as likely to run for Senate as Tancredo.

[Rawlings]

Don't worry, folks, Schaffer is running.  That little 'announcement' wasn't supposed to get out.  (Whoops!).  Look for an OFFICIAL announcement within the next week.

As far as Bill Owens goes...He's the wrong guy.  There are two big problems with him:

1.) He's responsible for the current split in the Colorado GOP.  It started back in 2004 when he put a knife to Bob Schaffer's back in favor of uber-lame Pete Coors.  Then Ownes commandeered Referendum C--with mostlly Democratic support--which amounted to a tax raise.  This was the final split and it crushed the GOP in 2006.  Not many people want him back--despite his good polling.  I know Bill.  I like Bill.  But we've had enough Bill for a while.

2.) He's got some major personal stuff that could cripple him in the election.  Just like the Foley Affair nailed the GOP's coffin shut--anything that comes out against Owens could be detrimental.  Maybe it shouldn't be that way--but in Colorado, home to Focus on the Family et al--that stuff matters.

Only Schaffer can really unite the GOP here.  Wadhams is getting the grassroots revved up and Schaffer will capitalize.  Really.