Press Release from the Colorado Democratic Party

McInnis Too Moderate for Colorado Republicans?

Denver, Colorado - The announcement today by former Congressman Scott McInnis that he would not run for the U.S. Senate in 2008 may give a signal that Colorado Republicans are not interested in moderate candidates. Rep. McInnis has a history of voting against a gay marriage ban. He also opposed Colorado’s Referendum A, the water grab project.

“There has been a whispering campaign in the background to the effect that Rep. McInnis is not acceptable to the right wing of his party,” said Colorado Democratic Party Chair, Pat Waak. “If that is the reasoning behind his announcement, it is sad that the Republican Party still doesn’t understand that the state, and the country, is looking for solutions, not ideologies.”
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Press Release from the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee

REPUBLICANS LOSE MAJOR RECRUIT IN COLORADO

McInnis Drops Out of Race to Fill Allard’s Senate Seat

Senate Republicans lost one of their leading recruits today, with former Congressman Scott McInnis declaring he will not run for the Senate seat in Colorado being vacated by Republican Senator Wayne Allard. McInnis announced in January that “there was no question” he would run for the Senate, but today reversed course and withdrew. His candidacy had been touted by national and state Republicans as key to their hopes of retaining the seat.

“Scott McInnis’ withdrawal from the race is a major blow to Republican efforts to hold onto a Senate seat in Colorado and another sign that the political environment continues to be extremely poor for the GOP,” said DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller. “Republicans in Colorado now have to start from scratch with a new candidate who will trail in both fundraising and political organization.”

McInnis Two Months Ago: “No Question I Will Run” For Senate. In early January 2007, McInnis told a reporter that if Wayne Allard decided not to seek re-election, there was “no question I will run.” [Denver Post, 1/16/07]

McInnis Would Have Started the Game With Nearly $1 Million In the Bank. McInnis has nearly $1 million left over from his House campaign account that could have been transferred to his Senate campaign, along with anything he may have raised in recent months. Meanwhile, likely Democratic candidate Mark Udall had over $1 million in his House account at the end of 2006 that he can transfer to his Senate campaign. [Denver Post, 2/27/07]

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