Tom Tancredo Announces Run For Presidency
Congressman Says He Hopes To Rattle McCain

POSTED: 8:25 am MDT April 2, 2007
UPDATED: 8:49 am MDT April 2, 2007

DENVER -- Rep. Tom Tancredo announced his candidacy for president Monday morning in Des Moines, Iowa.

Iowa will host the first presidential caucus in the country.

In January, Tancredo formed an exploratory committee. Last week he picked former CNN commentator Bay Buchanan to temporarily oversee the exploratory campaign.

Tancredo is well-known as an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration. He believes in securing the nation's southern border with Mexico and cracking down on illegal immigration.

The Colorado Republican has been flirting with a presidential bid for more than a year and began raising money for the effort in January.

He decided to make his run official after taking in more than $1 million in two months.

He concedes he is a long shot for president, but he hopes to rattle Arizona Sen. John McCain's campaign by appealing to conservatives on immigration, abortion and other issues.

McCain last year co-sponsored a bill creating a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country now, though he has played a smaller role in the issue this year.

Tancredo is a five-term House member.

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