Tim Neville Full-Steam Ahead for U.S. Senate; George Brauchler, Not So Much

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by: Colorado Pols

State Sen. Tim Neville appears to be committed to running for the U.S. Senate in 2016.

UPDATE: In an interview with Marianne Goodland of the Colorado Statesman, Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler sounds a bit less enthusiastic about a potential Senate run of his own:

But Brauchler also said people shouldn’t be surprised if, sometime in the future, they see yard signs supporting his run for another term as district attorney “or something else.” He is up for a second term as DA in 2016. The “something else” could be a run for governor in 2018, when Democrat John Hickenlooper will be termed out…

…As to his timeline for making a decision on a Senate bid, Brauchler acknowledged that Labor Day is often an informal deadline for campaign kick-offs for major races. But he said no one is pressuring him into making a decision by then. He cautioned that, if his need to “deliberate over this with my family costs me the ability to make this decision, I’m comfortable with that. This is too big a decision, not just for us but for the community and state.

“I shouldn’t get into this race unless my heart is in it. I have to figure out if that’s going to happen,” he added. [Pols emphasis]

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State Sen. Tim Neville (R-Jefferson County) is the big story in Colorado politics this week after news broke yesterday that he is preparing a bid for U.S. Senate in 2016.

Neville is embarking on a statewide “listening tour” for a few weeks before he formally announces his Senate campaign, which can occasionally be a code for “I haven’t made up my mind yet.” That’s not the case here. Neville is privately telling Republicans that he is “in it to win it” for 2016, and is absolutely planning on a full-scale campaign to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.

John Frank of the Denver Post updated his story from yesterday with a Neville interview, and the Jefferson County Republican seemed to indicate that he has made up his mind about running:

“We are doing more listening than speaking,” Neville said in an interview Wednesday. “I want to get in touch with the grassroots.”

Neville is considered one of the most conservative members in the state Senate. He defeated an incumbent Democrat in a swing seat in 2014 to win the seat. His campaign would appeal to hard-right conservatives and those aligned with the tea party…

…“I do believe he’s leaning toward it,” said [supporter Mike] Donahue, describing the prospects of a Neville campaign.

Neville sounds more equivocal. “I’m not sure there’s a lean,” he said laughing. [Pols emphasis]

Neville also told Frank that his plans for U.S. Senate are not contingent on whether or not Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler decides to enter the Republican field. As we wrote yesterday in this space, Neville’s apparent commitment to a U.S. Senate run will probably be enough to convince Brauchler to run for re-election as DA instead of seeking higher office in 2016.

18 thoughts on “Tim Neville Full-Steam Ahead for U.S. Senate; George Brauchler, Not So Much”

Zappatero says:

September 3, 2015 at 11:39 am

Tim is an r and he sux.

Bennet is a d and he good.

Mongo only vote for d.

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1. bullshit! says:
  
  September 3, 2015 at 11:46 am
  
  I think maybe you'd be happier as a Green, a LaRouchie, or something else suitably irrelevant.
  
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2. Moderatus says:
  
  September 3, 2015 at 4:51 pm
  
  It gets tiresome after a while, doesn't it Zappatero?
  
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  1. BlueCat says:
    
    September 3, 2015 at 5:23 pm
    
    Rich coming from you, modster.
    
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BlueCat says:

September 3, 2015 at 11:51 am

Jefferson County is more like it. They called him R-Littleton in the Post and while I suppose there might be a scrap of unincorporated Jeffco "Littleton" in his district I'd hardly identify him as "Littleton".

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Davie says:

September 3, 2015 at 12:23 pm

Run, Timmy, Run!

That should make the voters' choice crystal clear between a center-right Democrat and a lunatic fringe Republican gun nut.

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1. Moderatus says:
  
  September 3, 2015 at 1:10 pm
  
  Isn't that what you said about Laura Woods vs. Rachel Zenzinger? I don't think you have a clue what voters want.
  
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  1. Progressicat says:
    
    September 3, 2015 at 1:40 pm
    
    Gessler, 2018! He's what the people want.
    
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    1. BlueCat says:
      
      September 3, 2015 at 3:44 pm
      
      ouch.
      
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  2. BlueCat says:
    
    September 3, 2015 at 3:51 pm
    
    We're talking statewide, Modster. Gardner won statewide by imitating a garden variety Main Street conservative against perhaps the most clueless incumbent campaign in Colorado history. I admit I haven't been around for all of them. Timmy would neither have the desire nor the capacity nor the record to go softer and you can bet Bennet's team won't be planning a campaign on Udall's all scolding, all scowling model. I’d hold off on the in your face stuff.
    
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    1. Diogenesdemar says:
      
      September 3, 2015 at 3:59 pm
      
      Nope. Think Ken Buck's campaign with more Viagra …
      
      … testosterone and bandoliers!!!
      
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    2. Moderatus says:
      
      September 3, 2015 at 4:54 pm
      
      Gardner didn't go softer, he just ran a positive campaign. Democrats weren't prepared for Gardner and the smear tactics didn't work.
      
      There is a lesson in Gardner's victory, but not the one Colorado Pols readers think.
      
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      1. BlueCat says:
        
        September 3, 2015 at 5:24 pm
        
        We need an eye roll smiley.
        
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        MichaelBowman says:
        
        September 3, 2015 at 5:31 pm
        
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        BlueCat says:
        
        September 3, 2015 at 7:34 pm
        
        perfect!
        
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        Progressicat says:
        
        September 3, 2015 at 6:48 pm
        
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        BlueCat says:
        
        September 3, 2015 at 7:35 pm
        
        Good one but Bowman's is better.
        
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      2. Gilpin Guy says:
        
        September 4, 2015 at 8:38 am
        
        I think oh Kim Davis supporter that you forgot to mention that Gardner is one of the more gifted liars to grace Colorado's political scene. He is about as moderate as you are tolerant of non-conservative viewpoints. The 2016 election is a presidential election in which the economy has gained jobs for the last 56 months. Do you really think that voters want to go back to the good old days of Republican rule like 2007 when the economy was losing 700,000 jobs a month. Bennet isn't my favorite Democrat but he can hold his own with Neville.
        
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