Will Wayne Allard stay or will he go?
In July I thought Colorado's senior Senator would probably defend his seat in 2008. Today, signs point the other way.
Allard has been the target of national ridicule. He's considered vulnerable. And continued anti-Republican sentiment could doom him completely.
But the latter scenario seems unlikely. In fact, Democratic control of the legislature may help the GOP in the long term. Voters like divided government. And two years of vetoes and fingerpointing will remind them that neither party has a monopoly on virtue.
The GOP would probably like Allard to run again. With Tom Tancredo attempting to look as dumb as possible and Bill Owens expected to take a private sector job, the only real Republican contenders are relative unknowns like Bob Schaffer and Scott McInnis. Meanwhile, the Democratic favorite, Mark Udall, has a big warchest and has been campaigning for months.
Now Allard seems to be setting the stage for his own retirement. Today's Rocky Mountain News reports that Allard will hinge his decision on "What's best for Allard's family?" The answer to that question is usually a move as far away from politics as possible.
Plus Jason Bane claims that:
Republican sources say that Allard will not run for a third term to the U.S. Senate because of several reasons, most notably his pledge to serve only two terms in the senate and his wife Joan's dislike of Washington... Allard had only $120,507 cash on hand at the end of September, which is a miniscule amount of money to have in the bank if you are planning on running for re-election. Two-term senators can raise more money than that with a few phone calls.
Allard doesn't have the luxury of waiting. A Senate campaign costs big bucks, and if he's running, he needs to start pounding the phones immediately after the holidays.
Can you say, "Republican primary"?
Allard has been the target of national ridicule. He's considered vulnerable. And continued anti-Republican sentiment could doom him completely.
But the latter scenario seems unlikely. In fact, Democratic control of the legislature may help the GOP in the long term. Voters like divided government. And two years of vetoes and fingerpointing will remind them that neither party has a monopoly on virtue.
The GOP would probably like Allard to run again. With Tom Tancredo attempting to look as dumb as possible and Bill Owens expected to take a private sector job, the only real Republican contenders are relative unknowns like Bob Schaffer and Scott McInnis. Meanwhile, the Democratic favorite, Mark Udall, has a big warchest and has been campaigning for months.
Now Allard seems to be setting the stage for his own retirement. Today's Rocky Mountain News reports that Allard will hinge his decision on "What's best for Allard's family?" The answer to that question is usually a move as far away from politics as possible.
Plus Jason Bane claims that:
Republican sources say that Allard will not run for a third term to the U.S. Senate because of several reasons, most notably his pledge to serve only two terms in the senate and his wife Joan's dislike of Washington... Allard had only $120,507 cash on hand at the end of September, which is a miniscule amount of money to have in the bank if you are planning on running for re-election. Two-term senators can raise more money than that with a few phone calls.
Allard doesn't have the luxury of waiting. A Senate campaign costs big bucks, and if he's running, he needs to start pounding the phones immediately after the holidays.
Can you say, "Republican primary"?
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