Posted on 12/19/2007 6:03:04 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Tom Tancredo’s presidential campaign is planning a “major announcement” tomorrow in Des Moines. PJM’s Richard Miniter thinks the Colorado congressman will likely drop out of the race and endorse Fred Thompson.
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The Tancredo presidential campaign is planning a “major announcement” at 2 PM tomorrow in Des Moines. The flash media advisory is here.
“Major announcement” is code phrase used by the campaigns and understood by the press to mean “dropping out of the race.” (Some candidates have been known to abuse this unwritten understanding to win some attention for what turns out to be some boring policy speech. It only creates lingering press hatred for them.)
Until this just-released media advisory from Tancredo’s campaign, it was widely believed that Tancredo intended to stay in the race at least until the January 3 Iowa Caucuses.
But something bigger than Congressman Tom Tancredo’s departure from the presidential race may be in the works.
Moments ago, I spoke to a former official of Colorado’s Secretary of State office, which sets the rules for that state’s elections. Speaking under condition of anonymity because she is not authorized to talk to the press, she said that there is “no reason for Tancredo to drop out now.”
“Unlike other states, Colorado does not have a January filing deadline for candidates,” running for federal office. Tancredo is not legally required to declare his intentions regarding the seat he now holds in the U.S. House of Representatives. Nor is he required by law to file to run for Colorado’s open U.S. Senate seat in the next few months. Senator Wayne Allard, a Republican, announced plans to retire and friends of Tancredo believe he wants to run for that seat.
The Colorado GOP will want Tancredo to make up his mind (about running for one house of Congress or the other) sometime before that state’s Feb. 5 party caucuses.
Some suspect that Tancredo will not only drop out of the race, but endorse Fred Thompson.
The Politico points out: “Perhaps most notably, Tancredo’s close friend, Rep. Steve King, passed over his colleague and threw his support behind Fred Thompson this week. King and Tancredo have worked closely on immigration and many in Iowa thought King would not endorse as long as Tancredo was in the race.”
Will Tancredo endorse Thompson and shake up the race in Iowa? Tancredo loathes Mike Huckabee, the putative front-runner in Iowa, and has fought bitterly against Senator John McCain on immigration and other issues. As for Rudy Guiliani, Tancredo and the former New York mayor are far apart on immigration and social issues.
By process of elimination, it seems likely that Tancredo will follow the lead of his friend, Congressman Steve King, and endorse Fred Thompson.
I like Tancredo - I hope he does endorse Thompson - it’s time for conservatives to line up behind one candidate that can win. It’s looking like it’s going to come down to Thompson & Romney.
The more that comes out the more it seems FR speculation has been on the money (at least some of it). But, it’s still speculation. We’ll know tomorrow.
AP is quoting the usual "anonymous sources" who "are not authorized to speak" for Tancredo.
This "announcment" doesn't pass the smell test.
Yup, quite logical.
I will definitely vote for whoever gets Tancredo’s endorsement. It’s kind of what I’ve been waiting for.
I agree. Tancredo is a fine man from what I can tell; however, he obviously doesn't have a snowball's chance of winning the nomination. I'm sure he knows that. The race in Iowa and nationally is tightening up. He also knows that. The thought of Flipflop Romney, Huckabilly, Rudi, or McCain winning the nomination is probably as frightening to him as it is to most of us. He probably sees the momentum Fred is building and knows that his endorsement of Fred could really give Fred's campaign a shot in the arm, especially as fluid as the race is. Ultimately, Tancredo has to realize that this is the way he can make the biggest impact on the race. He can't win, but he can sure help someone who can.
I agree. They are looking like the only two viable candidates, despite the extremely recent nature of Romney's conservatism.
I’m taking the wait and see approach. I want to be cautious about building up hopes on specific events — the key is to exceed expectations.
The bottom line is that Thompson is having a great run right now, and the race is very fluid.
I have to say that if Tanc drops out, I would love to see him in the Senate.
Tancredo is my second choice, but I don’t really think he has the temperament to be president. He will make a spectacular head of Homeland Security or a similar post.
Bump, Tancredo’s conference is live on CNN.
Bump
Possible. I think if you don’t believe you can win then you should endorse a candidate you would like to see win.
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