Posted on 12/20/2007 4:11:53 PM PST by pissant
DES MOINES -- Congressman Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., ended his bid for the presidency just two weeks before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses Thursday, handing fellow Congressman Duncan Hunter a loss and giving Mitt Romney a gain.
Tancredo announced Thursday afternoon what many speculated -- he's stopping his efforts to seek the Oval Office.
Tancredo then endorsed Republican Romney.
"Congressman Tancredo ran a spirited campaign focused on issues that are important to many Americans," Romney said. "I thank him for his support. While we don’t agree on every issue, we agree on the need to keep America strong. I look forward to working with him and other Republicans to achieve that end."
That move surprised many Republican insiders, who thought the congressman might swing his support to Fred Thompson. Thompson was endorsed Monday by Iowa Congressman Steve King, a close friend of Tancredo's. King also weighed in on Tancredo's decision, and praised his efforts in moving the illegal immigration debate.
"The measure of his success is in the platforms of every Republican candidate and even in that of the Democrats," King said. "No candidate has had so profound an effect on any public policy of America. Every Republican has taken the no amnesty pledge and adopted a tough-on-illegal-immigration stance. Tom Tancredo has been so successful that much his political capital has been co-opted by his opponents."
However, Hunter may have been surprised about the Romney endorsement. Just two hours earlier at an IowaPolitics.com-Drake University forum in Des Moines, Hunter's Iowa campaign director Greg Grant said Tancredo had a gentleman's agreement with the fellow congressman.
"I believe his departure will benefit Duncan Hunter the most," Grant said a couple hours before the Tancredo announcement. "Duncan and Congressman Tancredo had a gentlemen's agreement if one of them backed out they would support the one that is still in the race. When you look at Tancredo's objective as far as immigration, Duncan is right in line with Tom Tancredo's issue."
Tancredo has been very critical of the Republican's stance on illegal immigration and said it was a driving factor why he entered the race.
"For the past 10 years I have dedicated my public life to the critical issue of illegal immigration," Tancredo said. "I believed then –as I do now—that massive uncontrolled illegal immigration threatens our survival as a nation. I could not stand by and let open border politicians and corporate lobbyists sell our country out to the highest bidder. Then earlier this year when I feared that the issue would not be championed by any of the top candidates I threw my hat in the ring. It was the only way I could be certain that the candidates would be forced to take a stand."
Tancredo has been very critical of national frontrunner Rudy Giuliani about his stance on illegal immigration. Romney has also criticized the former mayor for allowing New York to be a "sanctuary city."
There was a sense Nov. 13 that Tancredo saw his campaign sinking as he acknowledged he likely wouldn't be elected president. He said Grover Cleveland was the last member of the U.S. House to be elected president.
With the Iowa caucuses just 14 days out, many were curious why Tancredo would pull the plug on his campaign unless he could shape the outcome of the caucus. Romney and Huckabee are locked in a tight battle for the Jan. 3 title, and one Republican insider thinks that endorsement could make a difference with Tancredo supporters who closely follow the immigration issue.
Oh that’s brilliant...NOT!
I agree. If I were Mitt I wouldn’t count Tanc’s chickens just yet.
Tancredo went Van Hilleary.
Yup, shining the light of truth on Joe Isuzu Romney’s lying liberal flipflopping opportunistic record is like a cross to Dracula.
While I fear that it may be true in many ways, I sincerely hope it is not. I think you certainly have to give Romney more credit in the business area, he's met payrolls and created wealth. I also think he'd be strong in the international arena, even if you believe the crap about him being a Trojan horse for the Mormon church, he still wouldn't let the islamofascists mess with America.
Also, I worry less about Romney being able to impose his religion than I worry about Huckster being able to get away with imposing his, especially in the area of illegal immigration. Tom Tancredo had to have those things on his mind when he made his endorsement.
LOL Bump
Meaning?
I’m flabbergasted and can only believe the uncompromising warrior I met and spoke with one to one for half an hour is somehow put over a barrel through blackmail or threat of violence. Take into consideration that he’d already weathered the worst Rove and Kennedy could unleash.
I can not believe Tancredo would do this without some horrible threat being held over his head. FBI, if you flag these forums, here’s something to look at. Something’s dreadfully wrong.
Good riddance. Apparently the only gentleman in the agreement was Hunter.
He's worse than you can imagine (and I emphasize again, I don't give a damn about his religion -- I give a damn about his record and his character). Take a look at the wreckage he left behind him as an elected official. He will be a nightmare that will make Clinton look like Reagan. No morals, no ethics, no principles. Uses his wealth to bribe Conservatives in good standing into betraying everything they stand for. He is NOT a Conservative. Everything he does is about advancing himself and everything and everyone else is dead last. He MUST be stopped at all costs. Tancredo sold us out for a few pieces of silver. Shame on him and damn him for it !
I mean that Romney shouldn’t count on Tancredo supporters running to join team Romney. It didn’t seem to happen when Gilchrist endorsed Huckabee (and then un endorsed him)
The sentiment on the issue is far stronger than loyalty to the candidates. Personally I think that’s a good thing.
“I doubt too many Tanc supporters are going to run to the Romney camp anyway.”
You can count them on the fingers of one hand.
Obviously it’s Fred or Duncan.
Well, Tanc tanked for me from the start of this race when he PROMISED he would not run if another candidate strong on immigration ran. He lied. Sorry, that’s a fact. I’m afraid some of the old claims by the open border lobby about him being a grandstander may be correct. If he cared about the border he’d have endorsed Hunter from the start. He and Paul have destroyed the chances of us really getting a conservative.
“He said Grover Cleveland was the last member of the U.S. House to be elected president.”
Grover Cleveland was Governor of New York, and never served in the House.
James A. Garfield was the only sitting member of the House of Representatives to be elected President.
Dang it, Dane, you may have finally been right about something. But if Jesus Christ had been for securing the border you’d have bad mouthed him just like you did Tancredo for YEARS.
I still want to know what’s creeping around behind the scene manipulating these things.
I believe the light of exposure would be beneficial to all. We don’t need this constant manipulation of polls, skewed reporting and all that crap without challenge. I KNOW there’s a force working against our country’s better interests. The Proof is the unfinished border fence and the recent package to take away the funding for the previously passed build vote. Neatly done in a non-recorded raised hand vote in the wee hours of the morning. The refuge of traitors bought by our enemies.
I’m disappointed in Tancredo for backing Romney. I guess since he’s not running again, he doesn’t care about what happens to America/Americans!
Something goes on inside the beltway. Remember when Lindsey Graham was a good congressman?
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