May 23, 2013 08:37 AM UTC

The Tanc Is Back

•  
• by: Colorado Pols

As the Denver Post's Kurtis Lee reported late last night:

Former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, known for his strong stances on immigration, said late Wednesday night he plans to formally announce a run for governor on a conservative talk radio show Thursday.

“This Dunlap thing is the last straw,” said Tancredo in a message.

As most of our readers know, former Rep. Tom Tancredo challenged Gov. John Hickenlooper in 2010, following the implosion of leading GOP contender Scott McInnis in a plagiarism scandal leaving the hopelessly unqualified Dan Maes as the Republican nominee. Tancredo temporarily affiliated with the minor American Constitution Party to mount his bid, as it was too late for him to run as a Republican.

Notwithstanding whatever boost a Tancredo campaign might get in the short run from Hickenlooper's controversial decision to grant a reprieve to convicted murderer Nathan Dunlap, the fact remains that Tancredo is a symbol of everything the modern GOP is trying to get away from. Tancredo's anti-immigrant obsession has made him a repellent figure among the fast-group bloc of voters in the United States, and his frequent extreme rhetorical outbursts make Tancredo a severe liability to his political allies every time he grabs a microphone.

Having said that, he did get lots of endorsements in 2010, and just over 36% of the vote in a three-way race.

Does Tancredo have the clout in Republican circles to forestall a widely-expected primary? Or will we see a drawn-out contest between Tancredo, Greg Brophy, Scott Gessler–and maybe others? We, and Gov. Hickenlooper, will be watching closely.

UPDATE: As announced on Peter Boyles' radio show this morning: