Tancredo: Bid for Senate more likely than White House
March 22, 2006

WASHINGTON — Rep. Tom Tancredo said Wednesday he might run for the U.S. Senate in 2008, but only if Republican incumbent Sen. Wayne Allard retires. In an interview, Tancredo downplayed speculation about his political future, which was fueled by his response to a question during a recent television interview.

Still, after nearly a year of toying with a possible presidential bid in 2008, Tancredo said that a U.S. Senate race appears "more within the realm of possibility."

The Littleton Republican has raised his profile over the past year by making exploratory travels to early presidential caucus or primary states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Even Tancredo has conceded he would have little chance of actually winning the White House, but he has kept the idea of a candidacy out there as a way to get other candidates to take up his call for tough border enforcement.

As the immigration issue has become a hotter topic nationwide, talk of a presidential bid becomes less necessary, Tancredo said. "Remember, my need and my desire is to get someone running for that office who will carry that flag. It doesn't have to be me," Tancredo said.

"Every day I get the feeling, frankly, that by the time we really get into the nitty-gritty of a primary, we're going to have more than one person trying to ‘out-Tancredo' Tancredo."

Tancredo has had a hard time getting some national Republicans to take his presidential aspirations seriously. When top Republican presidential contenders — including Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and others — shared a stage in Memphis recently, Tancredo was not invited. Meanwhile, would-be candidates like Frist and Sen. George Allen, R-Va., recently have toughened their talk about illegal immigration.

Tancredo has not found his favorite candidate yet, but as for his own bid, he said, "It's certainly less likely...It does sound to me, more and more, like there are going to be the tall guys with good hair who will do it."

For now, Tancredo must focus on keeping his job in the House of Representatives. He faces a Republican primary challenge from consultant Juan Botero, and, if he wins, contend with Democrat Bill Winter.

Beyond that, 2008 is just speculation, Tancredo said, but he repeated something he has said for several years: that if there is an open U.S. Senate seat, he would strongly consider running.

Still, he added, "I would not run against Sen. Allard. He is doing fine."

Allard was first elected to the Senate in 1996, pledging to serve only two terms. Allard reiterated the pledge before his re-election in 2002, although he has since said he will not make a final decision until 2007. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, also has said he might run for Senate in 2008.

If there is an open seat, Tancredo said he would consider running even if outgoing Gov. Bill Owens or any other big-name Republican contenders joined the race.

Link