You Can Stop Mentioning Caplis

by: Colorado Pols

Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 12:31:11 PM MDT

We've never considered radio talk show host Dan Caplis to be a serious contender for the U.S. Senate, no matter how many media stories continually list his name as a possible candidate. As Colorado Confidential found out, most Republicans don't take a potential candidacy serious, either:

"I don't know any Republicans who are taking that seriously," says Lynne Cottrell, a former Arapahoe County GOP chair and longtime Republican activist who knows Caplis personally. "I don't know anyone who is supporting him. Dan's a good guy, but I don't know where [the media] is getting this idea that he is a potential candidate."

Attorney John Zakhem, a well-known GOP insider, is equally blunt when asked if he knows of any Republicans who are taking Caplis seriously as a candidate.  "Nobody [is talking about him]," he says. "He's not on the radar for me or any other Republicans that I know of."

Adds another Republican insider who wished to remain nameless speaking about the U.S. senate race: "Caplis? No. There isn't anybody who is thinking about Dan Caplis as a potential candidate."

Caplis did not respond to repeated attempts for comment, so it's hard to say whether he is seriously thinking about running for the U.S. senate or if floating his name is just a publicity stunt ("There are a lot of skeptics out there who say he's just trying to promote his radio show," says Zakhem). But if Caplis is serious about running for senate, he'll have a lot of convincing to do.

McInnis Pushed Out?

by: Colorado Pols

Thu Mar 22, 2007 at 09:46:00 AM MDT

The departure of Scott McInnis from the U.S. Senate race yesterday came as something of a surprise, but rumors that he was pushed out by Dick Wadhams and other Republicans grew with comments appearing in today's Grand Junction Sentinel.

"If the party can't unify, they can't win a statewide race, but if they can unify, they'll be able to recruit people like Russell George or Rebecca Love Kourlis," McInnis said.

McInnis is clearly sending a message by taking shots like this at the apparent establishment candidacy of Bob Schaffer. Many Republicans were upset when former State Party Chair Bob Martinez tried to force Marc Holtzman out of the race for governor in favor of Bob Beauprez. Less than a year later, it looks like it may have happened again.

"All eyes are on Bob Schaffer, probably, at this point," said state GOP Chairman Dick Wadhams.

The names may have changed, but not the tactics.