UPDATE: The Denver Post's Joey Bunch reports–catch the fever!
Gessler said he expects to make a final decision in one to three months. He could still relaunch his secretary of state campaign, if he finds the governor's race isn't a good fit, he said.
We're guessing that's not going to be their slogan.
Seriously folks, when the hell did such pusillanimous futzing around become the way to launch a campaign?
—–
9NEWS' Brandon Rittiman:
Republican Scott Gessler told 9NEWS he is suspending his re-election campaign for secretary of state, and is forming a committee Thursday to finance a run for the governor of Colorado.
At this point, Gessler has not gone all-in on his gubernatorial bid, saying he is not prepared to make a formal announcement for the office yet.
"I plan to spend the summer making sure my issues are the right issues for the state of Colorado," Gessler said…
"I want to avoid damaging the Republican Party through a contentious primary," Gessler said.
We'll update with further coverage–whatever is going on behind the scenes in terms of negotiations to avoid a primary against Tom Tancredo, or perhaps someone else, is more important right now than anything you'll see publicly. Gessler's halting transition into this race is a telling indicator that he has in no way "cleared the field." To be honest, we're not sure anyone has the power to do that at this point–although Gessler probably wishes he had made up his mind a bit sooner (as in, before Tancredo).
Not a very inspiring campaign launch either, we shouldn't have to say.
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An uninspiring campaign start for a lackluster candidate. Seems fitting, somehow.
It's called "strategery" . . .
(. . . just ask ArapaGOP)!!!
I can answer for him: The Sleeping Giant, the Silent Majority and the fabulous Scott Gessler are all going to make you pathetic libs sorry you were ever born! Just you wait! I also have a huge bombshell secret I can't share with you creeps yet but you libs are all gonna be so screwed! And stop throwing the whole Romney in a landslide thing in my face, you meanies! And whatever you say, you must really be desperate! Nice try! Bye now. I won't be sticking around to respond.
How'd I do?
Fools.
Gessler is being shrewd as well as candid. Meanwhile support is building for him everywhere.
There will be no primary.
Nothing says "Shine a big ol' spotlight on every action of the SOS's office" like the SOS running for Governor.
Even the slightest hint of voter supression, even a whiff of profilling voters based on last name alone and his campaign will crash before it even gets off the ground. He'll have given Hick a second term and he won't even have to leave the building.
Bring it on.
What you forget is that Gessler is praised by Republicans for working to stop voter fraud. His experience at SoS is an asset, not a liability.
You mean wasting money on a non-existent problem as he pockets taxpayer cash?
Either way Dems get to have fun next election. Gessler is a relatively easy opponent regardless of which race he decides to run, and Tanc is – well, he's Tanc.
First question to Gessler: "Do you believe that the governor's $90,000 per year salary is enough to live on, or will you be holding down a second job?"
Gessler in a landslide!
I call it "stragedy" -the plan of action executed by the loser of a political campaign.
Why waste the summer? You already know they're not…
Maybe he means he'll spend the summer trying to figure out what the deal with Tanc is going to be.
The dream: A Tanc-Honey Badger ticket
Good riddance- how did anyone ever think it was a good idea to put that guy in charge of our elections (facetious question)?
And the Dem SOS candidate can still run against him by constantly putting whoever the GOP comes up with in the position of defending Gessler's sleazy actions. People may not pay much attention to that stuff in general but with Gessler running for Guv, it will all be out there already in the high profile gubernatorial race. Latino voters will know him much better than they did before and, what with his constant attempts to minimize their vote, to know him won't be to like him. More will be motivated to vote against anyone who defends Gessler's policies.
The only alternative to defending all that for the GOP candidate would be to denounce Gessler's behavior as SOS and no GOPer who could make it through the primary would even think of doing that.
He can be the gift that keeps on giving both as outgoing SOS and as gubernatorial candidate. A genuine Twofer.
Translation: I'm willing to take one for the team in the Guvs race, but ArapaGOP, you better tell your bosses you only have a couple of months to make me a sweet deal to make it worth my while …
ArapGoof can't hear you. He has already dropped his load on this thread and will not be returning. On his behalf… Nice try, librul fools! Just wait!
What makes you think Gessler and "the bigwigs" aren't looking at the same numbers? Gessler will make his decision WITH the Republican establishment. He is a team player.
It won't take long. I predict Gessler will be the only candidate in a matter of weeks.
By a landslide! 🙂 (just beating you to it)
Because the GOP establishment is also concerned about losing another high-profile race, and putting out a candidate who has done everything in his power to disenfranchise Latino voters, a demographic that's only going to get bigger in 2016…..
"Goose stepper," you mean. Not team player.
Potato, potatoe . . .
. . . Gessler took a goose-step for the team!!
if he finds the governor's race isn’t a good fit
is Scotty’s way of saying: “Hey, Republican establishment; I need you to give me a lot of campaign money and make sure I don’t have to deal with a primary”