Dan Maes Refuses to Drop Out
The Denver Post reports that Colorado GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes has rejected a request to drop out of the race:
Republican Dan Maes rejected a proposal from third-party candidate and former Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo that they both drop out of the governor's race so the GOP could appoint a more formidable candidate to take on Democrat John Hickenlooper.
In what may be an unprecedented move in Colorado politics, the proposal was delivered Wednesday morning by GOP state chair Dick Wadhams because, he said, it affected Republicans' chances in the November election.
The messenger, however, made little difference to Maes.
"Dan flatly rejected this offer," said Nate Strauch, spokesman for Maes. "He won the nomination fair and square and never engaged in backroom dealings before, and he certainly is not going to start now, especially for a third-party candidate."
Tancredo said he wanted to make "one last effort" to edge Maes out so the Republicans could find a "better candidate."
"I think it's apparent that one very-well funded and well-positioned candidate has a better chance against (Denver Mayor John) Hickenlooper," he said, noting he would not drop out of the race as long as Maes stayed in. "I still think I have a better chance in a three-way contest than Maes does in a two-way. He isn't qualified to be governor."
Wadhams said Tancredo called him Monday and said he was interested in speaking to Maes about dropping out of the governor's race. Wadhams decided to deliver the offer himself, since there was a "possibility of eliminating the current three-way race that gives the Democratic candidate a huge advantage."
"I thought it was my responsibility as state chairman to do that," he said. "Dan indicated he would stay in the race. I consider the matter closed."
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