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September 08, 2010 06:12 PM UTC

Reminder: Hickenlooper Owns Gubernatorial Race

  • 44 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Just a quick note, the Colorado Independent relays that Democrat John Hickenlooper raised just north of $400,000 last month. Meanwhile, the conservative People’s Press Collective reports wistfully on fundraising by Tom Tancredo and Dan Maes:

In Dan Maes’ first month as Republican nominee and Tom Tancredo’s first full month as an American Constitution Party candidate, Tom Tancredo outraised Dan Maes by four to one. During the month of August, Dan Maes raised a paltry $50,201 next to Tom Tancredo’s haul of $200,485. Both lag behind Democratic candidate John Hickenlooper’s take of $403,597 during the same period.

Notably, the Maes campaign spent nearly half ($22,500) of what it raised last month on Secretary of State fines and legal fees…

Leaving Maes with, we expect anyway, more than enough to cover his bills. Tancredo, on the other hand, actually posted fairly strong numbers here, especially given the tighter limits he is under as a third-party candidate. Unfortunately, all that money isn’t moving his soft poll numbers a whit.

No need to really dwell on it, folks. It’s scenery on the road to a destination that isn’t changing.

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44 thoughts on “Reminder: Hickenlooper Owns Gubernatorial Race”

      1. from his speech during the 1988 Demoncratic National Convention, and it was aimed a George HW Bush (Sr.).

        “born on third base, thought he had hit a triple.”

        It is often mis-attributed to Ann Richards who said during that same convention.

        “George Bush [Sr] was born with a silver foot in his mouth.”

        My favorite twist on this genre which was aimed at George (Dubya) Bush, went something like:

        George (Dubya) Bush — born on third base, thought he hit a double.

        (And I seem to recollect that quip came from Mike Littwin, but I couldn’t find it during my quick search of the web.)

  2. even though I will vote for him.  I’m told by the people I respect that he’s a nice guy with a sense of humor.  Both traits seem self evident in the campaign.  He is however a successful businessman and a product of the hospitality industry (His Masters Degree in Geology not withstanding).  He admittedly prefers to gather round the table or ‘belly up to the bar’ to discuss differences of opinion before making a decision. A worthy trait, yes but one that can also lead to indecision and even paralysis when dealing with the legislative process or making appointments to key positions.  If we are to survive our current crisis we need a strong leader and I am not yet convinced he will be one.

    I hope he proves me wrong.    

    1. though my contact with him has been minimal. He is a very social person and indeed he does try to reach a decision that is not going to inflame. But, his decisions to deal with homeless folks in Denver were strong and brave, his decisions to seek tax increases also strong and brave, and very risky to anyone concerned with a political future as you know.

      I think most revealing is his decision to appoint Joe Garcia as his LG. I think you’d agree that this decision is different from what most politicos would do or predict. A strong decision and one he didn’t have to make. He could have appointed “just a politician” because he is so strong in the polls that it likely would not have hurt him a bit.

      1. Settling for the mayor because Scott lost is odd, voting for him because he’s a nice guy with a sense of humor and might (hah) belly up to the bar with you is simple minded. He owes you less then nothing.

        1. Tancredo was head of the entire term limits movement in Colorado. He used term limits as a key issue to be elected, enthusiastically ridiculing his opponents who refused to take a term limits pledge.

          Then he broke his pledge, violating his oath not only to the people of Colorado but to his voters, his key financial backers, and his employers. Unlike other RESPONSIBLE, ETHICAL conservatives like Bob Schaeffer and Bill Armstrong who kept their own pledges, Tancredo just walked away from his.

          That’s likely why Bill Armstrong recently flat-out stated on the Peter Boyles show that while he wouldn’t say whether he was endorsing Dan Maes, he absolutely would NOT endorse Tom Tancredo. Say what you will about Armstrong’s politics, at least he is honorable and ethical. Tancredo is neither – and we the people of Colorado can’t afford to forget that fact.

          The one and only time Tancredo swore to do anything that he could be held clearly accountable on… he broke his promise.

  3. Rosen endorsed Tancredo this morning.  His logic was laughable and a complete turn-around from last week.  I’m telling you again, Maes is going to drop like a rock and Tancredo is going to shoot up.  The number of people who care about the Republican Party is about as big as the number of Republicans on this site.  Most people will vote person over party.  Trust me, Tancredo could win this.

      1. because we suppport the successful businessman over the failed one we are all marxists.  

        Beej has bought his ticket to Palintopia via crazytown.  I think Baghdad Bob is riding shotgun with him.

    2. The successful scientist-turned-entrepreneur with a sense of humor who gives $2-million to charity?

      Or the failed businessman who clumsily pockets campaign contributions for personal use and lies about his past?

      BJ likes the latter.  

      1. Hadn’t heard about that. Dear God, not a scientist. It’s practice, not theory, that is needed in this situation.

        And the fact that he gave all that money to the Chinook Fund deeply disturbs me. Dan is a successful businessman, has not pocketed contributions for personal use, and has not lied about his past. Please stop lying about him.

        Hickenlooper is a pantywaist urban liberal that could care less about Coloradans. All he cares about is imposing U.N. backed green initiatives on us that cost us plenty.

        2. This might be the funniest thing I’ve seen all week: an ivory tower grad student in math at a state school in a liberal college town complaining about a petroleum geologist and businessman as “too theoretical” and “too urban.”

          Do you wear a mask to keep from smelling all the bullshit? If not, you should really consider it. For your health.

            1. it’s obvious to everyone my quote refers to you. So what do you think you’re accomplishing?

              If this is what you mistake for cleverness, no wonder your adviser doesn’t want to talk to you.

        3. as opposed to what you do.

          So how far did Dan drive around to earn his milage money? And what about that unreported $300 cash contribution (returned only after the donor complained).

          But I’m not surprised to hear that you believe the “undercover” story. You’ve never demonstrated critical thinking skills.

          Dan Maes is not only a crook, he’s a stupid crook.

          Maybe that’s too harsh. He could be merely ignorant. But since he was fined for his crimes, would that make Dan Maes an illegal ignorant?

          1. for 18 months. The Poundstone contribution was not reported due to the incompetence of a staffer who later left the campaign. Dan has said he takes full responsibility for this mistake.

            1. And The Beej has got a bad case of it.

              In Dan Maes’ May 3rd, 2010 campaign report to the SoS, he claimed $30,760 in mileage reimbursements for the period Jan 1-Apr 25.

              At the official rate of $0.50/mile, this is a claim for having driven 61,520 miles.

              His last reimbursement claim in this filing was on April 15. Thus, he claimed reimbursements for the first 105 days of 2010.

              Let’s assume CrazyDan© was a nearly tireless campaigner for this period and was on the road 6 days per week. This makes for 90 days of driving and campaigning during the first 3+ months of the year (and 15 days of spending some time near home with his family or otherwise staying relatively stationary, say for parades or county assemblies, as detailed in his SoS report).

              61,520 miles / 90 days = 683.5 miles/day

              This average daily driving allotment is greater than the length and width of Colorado added together. EVERY DAY!

              If we generously allow CrazyDan© to average 68 mph when he is driving, this results in over 10 hours of driving time. EVERY DAY!

              (This is most generous, since in most parts of the state it is not legal to average this speed for any significant distance and physically impossible on top of that. So, 10 hours/day of driving is likely the lower limit, not an average. Given that most of this period was during an unusually snowy winter in Colorado, 10 hours/day is really unreasonably generous.)

              So, Beej, are you really sticking to your claim that CrazyDan© drove 10-12+ hours each day for 6 days per week for 15 weeks during a Colorado winter. And had time to meet with wingnuts like you?

              Although mathematicians can play with imaginary numbers, it’s not legal for political candidates to file imagined numbers on their reports to the SoS.

              1. .

                What if those “mileage reimbursements” include reimbursements for other travel expenses, like lodging and food ?

                If so, $340 a day is pretty cheap for being on the road all the time, compared to my experience traveling for an employer.  

                Not trying to defend Maes; trying to test your analysis.

                Suppose: Lodging = $100; meals = $60; dry cleaning, incidentals = $30.  If the mileage rate is $1 per mile rather than half, as you assume, then he might have only driven 150 miles per day, on average.  

                In addition, the $340 per day might include expenses for any staff traveling with him, or expenses like printing brochures, bumper stickers, and the like.

                Unless you’re not really serious, in which case, please disregard.  Nevermind.

                .

                1. So I guess we have to add stupid to ignorant and criminal as explanations.

                  And the guy did credit reporting. He filled out forms for a living – oh wait, that didn’t work out so well, did it?  

                2. In addition to “mileage reimbursements” Maes made claims for food and lodging (sometimes sequential days in nearby towns, suggesting he did NOT drive 680 miles some days).

                  Maes has also made claims for reimbursements for air travel and parking, cutting down on his possible mileage for those days.

                  He also made claims for reimbursements for snacks.

                  And for gas for other campaign vehicles.

                  And specific claims for office supplies.

                  And postage stamps.

                  And banners.

                  And PVC pipe from Home Depot.

                  And printing costs.

                  And phone bills.

                  And various undetailed “miscellaneous expenses.”

                  And …

                  All of these claims are for legitimate needs of a campaign. I don’t have any qualms about them at all. However, if a candidate is going to ask for reimbursement for mileage, the rate is $0.50/mile. You might prefer another rate of reimbursement (gee, it would be nice to be reimbursed $100 for that $50 of gas I put in the car…), you might prefer a pony, but you are allowed to ask for $0.50/mi.

                  CrazyDan© is fully aware of this rate as can be seen in his September 7 report to the SoS after he learned he needs to explicitly document the miles driven and the reimbursement claimed. He is using $0.50/mi.

                  So, is it likely CrazyDan© drive 10-12+ hours every day from January 1 to April 15? Or did he use his campaign as a source for his mortgage payments? Or did he purchase some “Michael Steele Republican types of ‘entertainment'” for the “hospitality suite” at the Marriot Denver South? Or what? Help me out. Maybe your imagination is more Republican than mine?

                  The take home message is: the likelihood that the “reimbursement” was for actual mileage driven is, to be generous, effing close to zero.

                  Any further questions?

                1. What I have reported is from CrazyDan©’s filing to the SoS covering the period Jan 1 – April 25, 2010.

                  If you want to look at his filings and reimbursement claims for an additional 16 months, you may.

                  There is data for this 3 month period. I have looked at the data and drawn conclusions from it. The data does not support your puppy love claims. There is data for the rest of the time to. Go ahead and look at it and report back. It won’t change what exists during this 3 month period.

                  The take home message remains the same:

                  The likelihood that the “reimbursement” was for actual mileage driven is, to be generous, effing close to zero.

                  Thanking you in advance for your warm apology, Beej.

            2. In what way has Maes taken full responsibility? Sounds like blaming it on an underling who was just following orders. That’s actually the opposite of taking full responsibility. Can you say “opposite”?

  6. If there were, that person would likely siphon off votes from Buck. Some voters would undoubtedly confuse Buck for Maes and vice versa.

    I’ll wager the ACP candidates for U.S. House seats get a few hundred more votes each than they normally would, simply because voters who like the idea of Tancredo as the ACP governor might vote for downballot candidates as well.

    So many Coloradans have only the vaguest idea who the candidates are.

    1. .

      We thought Buck would be the GOP nominee for Senate, and didn’t see the point in challenging him.  He’s pretty close to the ACP platform.

      We thought that the GOP candidate for Guv would be McInnis.  He’s closer to Hickenlooper than to the ACP, so we targeted that race.  

      We really only had one candidate ready for prime time, Big Ben Goss.  

      .

      A few hundred more votes for Congressional candidates sounds about right, unless there are other problems with the GOP candidate.

      .  

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