Posted on 12/19/2007 5:27:19 PM PST by LdSentinal
DENVER (AP) — Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo, whose forceful opposition to illegal immigration vaulted him to national prominence, plans to announce he is abandoning his long-shot bid for the presidency, a person close to Tancredo said Wednesday.
The five-term Colorado congressman planned to make the announcement at a news conference in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for Tancredo or his campaign.
Tancredo's campaign would only say he planned a "major announcement" Thursday.
Tancredo has consistently polled at the back of the nine-person GOP field. He has based his campaign on opposition to illegal immigration, a top issue in many areas of the country. He has run television ads that link lax border security to terrorist attacks, rape and other crimes.
Tancredo announced in October that he would not seek a sixth term in Congress, but hinted he would consider running for the Senate after his presidential bid.
Colorado will have an open Senate seat next year when Republican Wayne Allard retires.
Fears about illegal immigration boosted Tancredo's profile, but it didn't translate into support as reflected by his low standing in national and state polls and his limited fundraising. In part, candidates such as Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani usurped Tancredo's hardline stance on the issue, prompting the congressman to quip at one debate that "all I've heard is people trying to out-Tancredo Tancredo."
Tancredo drew criticism for a controversial campaign ad that showed a man in a hooded sweat shirt with a backpack in a crowded mall. The screen goes dark at the sound of an explosion, and then the ad shows clips of the aftermath of terrorist acts in Europe, including a picture of a bloodied child.
"There are consequences to open borders beyond the 20 million aliens who have come to take our jobs," a narrator says. "Islamic terrorists now freely roam U.S. soil, jihadists who froth with hate, here to do as they have in London, Spain, Russia. The price we pay for spineless politicians who refuse to defend our borders against those who come to kill."
"I approve this message because someone needs to say it," Tancredo says at the beginning of the ad.
Tancredo took credit in July for some of the political woes that have befallen Sen. John McCain, once the front-runner in the GOP race. Tancredo has hammered McCain in Iowa and other states for supporting a failed immigration bill in Congress that would have legalized millions of immigrants now in the country.
The grandson of an Italian immigrant, Tancredo says he became angry about illegal immigration because of bilingual education requirements in schools. He says those requirements turned out students who were illiterate in two languages.
Tancredo wants the military to patrol U.S. borders and employers to be required to prove a need for short-term foreign workers.
Never shy about stirring controversy, Tancredo told a radio talk-show host that "you could take out" Islamic holy sites should terrorists ever launch a nuclear attack against the United States.
When asked if he meant bombing holy sites like Mecca, Tancredo answered: "Yeah" and said he was "just throwing out some ideas."
Tom's a good man. Would love to see him run for Governor of Colorado.
This press release was really out of line. Tancredo hasn’t made this announcement. The associated press should not send out speculations as announcements for him.
I wonder if he will endorse someone, and also if it will make a difference to that candidate.
I guess there’s no room for conservatives in the Republican Party anymore.
Stopped reading here - AP Hillary plant.
As I said, I like Tom, but his political campaign was Quixotic. Even William F. Buckley was able to get 14% in a general election in an overwhelmingly liberal city.
Good, we need him there.
I was born in Denver. I would love to see Mr. T as Gov! He’s a good and passionate man, who loves his Country. There should be many more like him.
Or a Senator - right.
Maybe he’ll run for the senate. I hope his supporters will come join us in backing Hunter. We’re probably the two friendliest groups of candidate supporters there are.
That depends on who the "person close to Tancredo" is. If it was his campaign manager, this is a legitimate news story.
Tancredo can do it. Colorado may swing every few years, but I do know that the immigration issue is big there and, provided he also shows attention to other local issues (land use for example) he can take the statehouse from that horse’s behind Strickland.
While I understand the desire for Coloradans to have Tancredo as their governor, our nation needs him right now, and if it cannot be as President, then he should be a US Senator, and the fun part is, after the Witch loses the election (be it general or primary) she will be no greater than him, vote-wise.
All good and well but your opening line was just rude. A lot of good people are going to be very dissappointed.
It doesn’t do them any favors when folks on the same side of the isle act that way.
Uphill battles change everyday. Remember, when Brownback dropped out he was ahead of Huckabee in the polls I believe.
News and Press
Major Announcement from Tancredo Campaign Tomorrow
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Alan Moore
December 19, 2007
Alan.Moore@TeamTancredo.org
F. 703-255-9875
O.703.255.9898
C.303-332-8279
***Media Advisory***
Tancredo Presser in Iowa
(Washington, D.C.) – Presidential candidate Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) will hold a presser to make a major announcement regarding the campaign.
WHO: Presidential candidate Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO)
WHAT: Major Announcement
WHEN: Thursday, December 20th, 2:00 PM CST
WHERE: Downtown Marriott
2nd Floor Salon F
700 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
Location contact: Alan Moore 303-332-8279
If this is true, than look for most of his supporters to gravitate to Duncan Hunter. Which is a good thing, as Hunter hasn’t gotten the attention he deserves so far.
His Marine son is running for the House seat.
Senator would be great too. I just want him serving. He’s great.
I doubt it. But the ‘news creating press’ always has the ‘condition of anonymity’ as a cover.
Telling it like it is.
Most people on this forum side with this 100% (but not Clemenza, whose idea of a "civilized" country is the Dominican Republic). But anyone ever imagine hearing the so-called mainstream candidates say it like this?
No guts from them.
From Tom? He's fearless.
Only problem with him was that he was too sincere, not slick enuff. Didn't do so hot in the sound bite marathons.
So what. All the rest of those bozos are singing his tune. It's their number 1 issue now, and he's the guy who brought it to 'em swinging.
Tom always really wanted to run for Senator. He only ran for President because he thought it was his duty to advance the issues he felt strongly about. Best of luck to Tom Tancredo. He’s one of the best Republicans in America.
He's got some of the best people on the planet behind him.
What he doesn't have are the MSM talking heads.
They're pushing Gomer Huckabee, for obvious reasons.
Your kinda guy.
I personally would like to see Tancredo as Secretary of Homeland Security. I desire that because of his ‘lettuce to Chertoff’ campaign.
Oh there is, but they must have a Hollywood connection.
I like Duncan Hunter myself, but among the top tier I could hold my nose and vote for Romney.
He is one of the best Republicans. I have alot of respect for the man. He had the courage of his convictions and never wavered. He had the courage to stand up and say things that most were afraid to because it wouldnt be politically correct.
He is the one that stood up and took our voices in regards to illegal immigration to Washington.
God bless you Mr Tancredo....may success follow you in whatever you endeavor.
Hunter’s Marine son will be great in congress.
With three tours in, he has walked the walk
His announcement will be close, I am going walk over and listen.
Should be interesting.
THAT is great!
Tancredo made a great service to this country by highlighting the problem. He deserves our thanks.
Maybe not, but he did provide the best political quote:
“I trust those conversions when they happen on the road to Damascus, not on the road to Des Moines.”
Surely you know not to refer to a Freeper in a post without pinging him to the post.
Isn't that special?
Good point, he’d be an excellent Homeland Security secretary, I hope the next Republican President considers him for it. And Duncan Hunter for Secretary of Defense, as well!
Hunter who? No, just kidding. But, Hunter would be killed in the general election. He has great ideas and is a great, Christian man. But in today's political climate where most voters are uneducated, we need a man that resonates with the people while having a strong conservative stance. Giuliani and Romney resonate with the people, but are too liberal and will be called out big time when it comes to flip flopping (the Democrats have hours of video of Mitt and Rudy flip-flopping). McCain is electable except that he pi$$ed off his base with liberal moves, although I credit him with not flip-flopping and standing up for what he believes. Fred Thompson has good ideas and is a strong conservative, but he looks like he could die before the election and his campaign style is just as lethargic. I think Huckabee has the right mix. He's funny, somewhat conservative, and people just generally like him.
Oh Puleeeze! Huckleberry does not have the right mix. He comes across as a smarmy tele preacher who is out to con you out of your money. Only in office, he can force you to cough it up to spend on his “ministry.” The man is a slime.
He’s one of the best Republicans in America.
Hard to not agree with that!
he would be great in the Senate.
I think FRED has been listening to Tom’s message. Am pretty sure rootymcromney have not been. and huckleberry, well, need I say more?
“Am pretty sure rootymcromney have not been.”
I think Romney has been listening. His heart is not in it, but he’s listening.
This thing is not over.
We are going to smoke 'em out YET! They have another think coming if they think the Illegal Immigration is going to die with the end of the Tancredo bid.
Again, my highest respect to Tancredo and his supporters--you are great Americans.
Related thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1941872/posts
That is certainly what it is starting to look like.
If this is true, congrats and well done on a good run, Cong. Tancredo. He has done his job getting the important issues out there — on immigration, and also on reining in wasteful spending (an issue where Tanc is also great).
I would love to see him in the Senate. I guess this means that Hunter moves from #3 to #2 on my candidate list.
For me, that's all the more reason to applaud his presidential run. It takes guts to run a long-shot campaign, and I always appreciate folks who do so (and sometimes even vote for them).
Tanc was second on your list, too?
We were definitely separated at birth.
(YES, I know I am probably a decade or more older than you.
:p )
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