U.S. Senate See Full Big Line

(D) J. Hickenlooper*

(R) Somebody

80%

20%

Governor See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse

(D) Phil Weiser

(D) Jena Griswold

60%

60%

40%↓

Att. General See Full Big Line

(D) M. Dougherty

(D) Alexis King

(D) Brian Mason

40%

40%

30%

Sec. of State See Full Big Line

(D) George Stern

(D) A. Gonzalez

(R) Sheri Davis

40%

40%

30%

State Treasurer See Full Big Line

(D) Brianna Titone

(R) Kevin Grantham

(D) Jerry DiTullio

60%

30%

20%

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

(R) Somebody

90%

2%

CO-02 (Boulder-ish) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse*

(R) Somebody

90%

2%

CO-03 (West & Southern CO) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Hurd*

(D) Somebody

80%

40%

CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado) See Full Big Line

(R) Lauren Boebert*

(D) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Crank*

(D) Somebody

80%

20%

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

(R) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) B. Pettersen*

(R) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-08 (Northern Colo.) See Full Big Line

(R) Gabe Evans*

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(D) Joe Salazar

50%

40%

40%

State Senate Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

80%

20%

State House Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

95%

5%

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
March 22, 2009 02:34 PM UTC

McInnis: "I'm In"

  • 36 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

As the Denver Post reports, Colorado’s favorite “I’ll run for anything” candidate, former Rep. Scott Mcinnis, has settled on something–challenging Bill Ritter for the Governor’s Mansion, muscling right past the flagging aspirations of Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry.

Former Congressman Scott McInnis has been saying for weeks that it’s too early to announce whether he’s running for governor next year, but privately he’s telling his friends: “I’m in.”

McInnis made that clear when he schmoozed with fellow Republicans at a state GOP dinner and committee meeting over the weekend, and in talks in recent weeks.

“He told me he was in,” said state Rep. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, after talking to McInnis on Friday night at the GOP dinner.

“I said great. I’ve known Scott for years, and he certainly has a strong presence,” Roberts said.

State Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, said McInnis told him a week ago that he was running for governor.

“The bottom line is I’ve always viewed Scott McInnis as someone who stood up for the Western Slope but also stood up for Colorado,” Tipton said.

McInnis’ entry into the race would likely set up a Western Slope showdown between himself and Josh Penry, his one-time protege and political rival since at least 2006…

“I don’t relish a race against Scott,” Penry said, “but it won’t be the first time that our paths have crossed.”

What do you think, sages, is this going to work? We predict a few things–first of all, this only makes it more likely that Penry will ultimately decide not to run for Governor, as we speculated a few weeks ago. Combine the entry of somebody with a resume like McInnis’ with Penry’s disastrous leadership of the Senate Minority this session and that should pretty much do it for Penry until 2014. Decide what you want to be when you grow up or something, Senator.

Also left out of this discussion are the gubernatorial aspirations of two old GOP hands, Bob Beauprez (now believed to be looking at the Senate race) and Tom Tancredo. But Bill Ritter could only have hoped for either of those men to get the nod–neither has a serious chance of winning statewide, whatever they might have convinced themselves. And still not fully known are the intentions of 2006 candidate Marc “Viva Napoleon” Holtzman, widely considered to be close to throwing his hat in the ring. We think Holtzman/McInnis could emerge as the real primary matchup at this point, which would be fun to watch to say the least.

As for Ritter? Well, he entered 2009 sweating Josh Penry more than anything else, so watching Penry slobber himself all session has got to be encouraging. In some ways McInnis can be surficially considered a more formidable opponent to Ritter than Penry–but the same experience that makes him formidable is what makes him vulnerable, from Tom DeLay ties to “McLobbyist” to those questionable checks to his wife. But, you know, they’ve got to run somebody.

Tweet
Share

Comments

36 thoughts on “McInnis: “I’m In””

  2. McInnis leaving his $500,000 salary at Hogan and Hartson to challenge Penry and Ritter is the best thing Billy the Kid could hope for.  Does anyone dispute this? Why is Pols pushing McInnis so hard — and trashing Penry so much?!  Speaks for itself.  The good news for Ritter is that he won’t have to spend any $ on opposition research on McInnis.  All he’ll have to do is Google the guy to find his connection to DeLay, paying his wife with money he promised for breast cancer research, naming canyons after himself, etc. etc. Scott McInnis is delusional (as usual) to think the Colorado GOP wants his ilk to be governor.

    1. Well, MesaModerate, considering that Ritter used to be a partner at the same firm, it shouldn’t be much of an issue. Furthermore, it speaks volumes about a man’s character when he is willing to leave a salary like that in order to seek public office during a time when his Party and the people of Colorado need him most.

      Pols is hardly pushing McInnis, and really has done little but point out some facts on Penry (though I do not subscribe to the Pol attacks on Penry’s minority leadership).  If Penry is smart, he will sit this one out, work to regain the majority, and consider a run down the road when he has a more extensive resume.

      I think it’s funny that the Penry supporters are engaging in the exact same type of candidate fanaticism that they acused the liberals of with Obama. They are buying into the whole young, hope, change bit, and should realize by now, it is not so good.  No matter how they sexy it up, inexperience amounts to just that.

      Now, back to McInnis… Paying his wife: Well, I don’t know how many campaigns you’ve worked on MM, but there is a tremendous amount of wrapping up to do after the campaign ends. . She was a member of the staff, and with the amount of work she put in, probably wasn’t paid enough. There was absolutely nothing to the FEC complaint, which is why it was dismissed.

      As for McInnis Canyons, it speaks more to McInnis’ extensive accomplishments in protecting the Colorado open spaces and wilderness, then anything else.  The name was changed in honor of his work on behalf of Colorado, and was introduced by Walden (OR) and Pombro (CA), not McInnis, so he did not name it after himself. Quit distorting the facts. H.R. 4827 / Public Law 108-400

      If this is the best you’ve got, then I think McInnis is in good shape.

  3. a best case scenerio for Republicans.  McInnis is arguably their best candidate…Coffman being the only other challenger for that title.

    Still not sure that he’s enough to knock off Ritter though.  We Coloradans like re-electing our governors.

    1. You go with experience over youth. Penry can wait until 2012. THat would give him time to build his power base or collapse under his own weight. We’ll see.

  4. that would hurt him in the Primary (and General), and he’s too ‘moderate’ for the wingnut caucus that dominates the Primary.

    ‘Country Club’ Republicans on the Western Slope might support McInnis, but the emergent and ruling Rowland Wing will back Penry.  And they’ll be nasty about it in a Primary.  So I think that Penry would take the 3rd CD against McInnis.  

    All that said, unless the Messianic fervor that greets Josh in some quarters has gone to his head, Penry might be wise enough to sit this one out.  A three-way primary would certainly give it to Holtzman; a two-way between McInnis and Mark is less clear in my Crystal ball.  Not sure how McInnis would do on the Front Range.  

    ColoradoPols puts no relevance in voters west of Lakewood (and I get their math although–predictably–I like to think it carries its political weight in other ways that can’t be ignored in understanding statewide races), but McInnis would probably take the 3rd CD (and the mnt. counties of the 2nd) in a two-way primary.  Obviously he would still have to carry enough of the suburban and Front Range areas, and in his ‘moderate’ reputation might be liability.

    As for the state all this leaves the GOP field for the Senate race (which is where most of the national monies will go) it’s not hopeful for the Republicans.  

    While Republicans are doing a hair better than they were a couple of weeks ago in national polling against ‘generic’ Democrats, people don’t run against generic candidates.  Bennet and Ritter will be running against people like Bob Beauprez and Mark Holtzman.  

    Now that the CO GOP has selected as their leader–by a fat fat majority–the same one that ‘led’ them to the slaughter the last two cycles, Democrats everywhere are undoubtedly rejoicing over the situation, from the selection of probable candidates to the so-called leadership that will be running the field.

    PS-I’m trying to up my word count in posts to better compete in the changing trends…

    1. In his defense, Dick Wadhams was only state chair during the last election cycle sluaghter.  In ’06, he was running Macaca Allen’s re-election campaign in VA.

      1. Mea culpa, he can honestly avoid blame for the Beauprez disaster.  

        On BWB, I do hope that Both Ways redux is first in a viscous Primary, by Ken Buck and another fringe nutter or two.  

        The Primary smack down can provide a kind of incubator for good attack nicknames and strategies for the General.  

        I think Wadhams has his work cut out for him if he truly wants to quickly clear the field.

    1. Because it would be a moderate vs a wing-nut. It would let the party discuss which direction they want to go in the context of a key primary that is state-wide.

      This would force them to discuss this issue and pick sides. That’s needed to move forward.

      1. shows that debate has already been decided, don’t you think?  It’s official.  Moderates WILL be assimilated into the GOP Wing-Nut Collective or spit out. Resistance is futile. Goodbye Colorado GOP. Hello WNP, otherwise known as The Borg.

  7. Can anyone at Pols point me to a publication or even an overheard rambling at a Lincoln Day Dinner that leads you to believe that Marc Holtzman is even considering this race?  I know the guy’s resume is impressive (Secretary of Technology and all) but how in the world does he deserve mention in this discussion? He was trounced in ’06 and my GOP friends all think he’s a (sad) joke…

        1. Owens wanted to make Holtzy head of CSU but failed, so he convinced DU to make up a position for Holtzy (fictional president or something).  

    2. …would be Seymour funding another independent expenditure campaign for an off-year ballot question featuring “Viva Napoleon” in the T.V. commercials.

        Who can forget (try as we might) the anti “C” & “D” commercials Holtzy’s Daddy funded in ’05.

  9. McInnis stands the best chance of beating Ritter for many reasons.  He has a solid conservative record and has remained active in working for the party in Colorado, yes even using PACs to that end, Newman.  Regardless of the usual attacks by Penry and Ritter interests, McInnis spent 12 years fighting for his constituents in the 3rd, while always working for a better Colorado.  Which is why he has remained so popular throughout the state years after leaving public life.

    McInnis is the best-rounded of the potential candidates. His popularity and experience with the business community is a critical factor with the current economic state.  His work with energy gives him another advantage in a state that has so many natural resources.  His stance on social issues is conservative and constitutionally responsible, and McInnis realizes that it is not the government’s role to legislate morality.  He is staunchly pro-life and pro-family.  McInnis has already achieved more politically than any of the candidates combined, and is not running to pad his ego or resume.  He is running because Colorado needs a solid commonsense conservative approach to government.  Finally, McInnis knows that running a campaign based on a single issue or catering to a small element of the Party has proven unsuccessful.  He knows that there are many types of conservatives and many issues to address, and that to be truly successful, any Republican candidate needs to focus on all of them with a big tent approach.

    Finally, McInnis has the best chance of capturing the moderates and independents, which as everybody should know by now, is the key to winning close elections.  And the governor’s election is sure to be close.  McInnis has the support and financial resources to defeat Ritter, and a Penry challenge will only ensure a bloody primary and another 4 years of Democrats in the governor’s mansion.

    1. … which is that of a campaign flier, I agree with your assessment of McInnis’ qualifications and potential to win in 2010. I disagree that a “bloody primary” would, in nd of itself, mean a Ritter victory, unless it leads to a final schism between the wingnuts and the moderates (hey MesaModerate, you belong to the former camp).

    2. One of the things I liked about Scott when he was in Congress was that he stood up to the right wing of his own party on the abortion issue.  I always appreciated that he could be conservative on some things but be firmly pro-choice in his votes.  Sounds like GOPstudent needs to go back to school on Scott’s record.

      1. Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life. (Oct 2003)

        Voted YES on funding for health providers who don’t provide abortion info. (Sep 2002)

        Voted YES on banning human cloning, including medical research. (Jul 2001)

        Voted YES on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)

        Voted YES on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes. (Apr 2001)

        Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000)

        Voted YES on barring transporting minors to get an abortion. (Jun 1999)

        Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)

        Courtesy of ontheissues.org

  10. McInnis could be a strong top candidate for any Western Slope Republican on the ticket. He could lose the gov’s race, yet help win some state leg and commissioner races, esp in the 3rd. Also, McInnis will have lots of help from O&G-fueled 527’s.

    This is going to be a very tough race for Ritter. For one thing, Scooter doesn’t play by the rules. Second, he has an uncanny knack of remembering people’s names. Third, McInnis is a non-stop campaigner.  

Leave a Comment

Recent Comments


Posts about

Donald Trump
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Lauren Boebert
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Yadira Caraveo
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado House
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado Senate
SEE MORE

190 readers online now

Newsletter

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop with regular updates!