Marc Holtzman has dropped out of the governors race after being tossed from the ballot this week by Colorado's activist judges, according to the Rocky Mountain News. Mr. Holtzman is now Bob Beauprez's biggest fan.
From the article, "Marc Holtzman's drive to be governor was quashed Thursday by the Colorado Supreme Court, ending a campaign that infuriated much of the state's Republican establishment and highlighted divisions in the party. Holtzman's last hope of getting a spot on the Aug. 8 Republican primary ballot died when the high court refused to consider an appeal of a lower court decision that effectively ended his bid. Putting aside an often bitter rivalry, Holtzman immediately endorsed Congressman Bob Beauprez and said he would campaign for him against Democrat Bill Ritter...
"Much of the staff is in its 20s and had little previous political experience. Many said they felt the campaign had succeeded in highlighting such issues as illegal immigration and opposition to Referendum C, which freed up money normally returned to Coloradans under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to help the state recover from budget problems...
"Holtzman said he will soon make a joint appearance with Beauprez calling for party unity. 'I'll ask all of my supporters and contributors to close ranks behind Bob Beauprez,' he said. Holtzman called Beauprez to tell him he was ending his campaign. When asked if they had discussed whether he might join the ticket as a candidate for lieutenant governor, Holtzman smiled. 'That subject did not come up and I have a feeling it probably won't,' he said to laughter. Beauprez's campaign manager said they are looking forward to uniting the party behind his candidacy."
Here's the coverage from the Denver Post. They write, "Beauprez and Holtzman are expected to hold a Republican unity rally in the next few days. Ritter said that ever since the secretary of state's office found three weeks ago that Holtzman did not have enough signatures to make the ballot, he had considered Beauprez his opponent."
Jim Spencer adds, "Political consultant Eric Sondermann has bumped into Bill Ritter twice the past couple of weeks. Both times, said Sondermann, the Democratic candidate for governor was dining with 'former Republican legislators.' Sondermann wouldn't name the ex-lawmakers. Still, the ability of the Democrat to reach out to Republican players at this point in an election year shows how Marc Holtzman's scorched-earth campaign for governor has burned Republican Party nominee Bob Beauprez. The scars will remain visible and ugly, even though the Colorado Supreme Court on Thursday ruled Holtzman out of an August Republican primary. Holtzman's ads and rhetoric may be gone. They will not be forgotten...
"Thanks to Holtzman, Beauprez goes into the general election campaign recognized as 'Both Ways Bob.' Beauprez emphasizes his support for an initiative to deny state benefits to illegal immigrants, partly because Holtzman pushed the issue so hard. But Colorado provides virtually no benefits to illegal immigrants that are not required by the federal government of which Beauprez is a part. Meanwhile, Beauprez serves in the U.S. House of Representatives, which refuses to negotiate with the Senate to pass an immigration reform bill."
The general election is starting earlier than expected, according to the Denver Post. They write, "Colorado's race for governor officially begins today, as Republican Bob Beauprez and Democrat Bill Ritter battle each other for the right to lead the state for the next four years. Beauprez, coming off months of party infighting with Marc Holtzman, is considered wounded but also politically tested. Ritter, the sole Democrat, had looked forward to another month and half of quiet pre-primary campaigning. But Holtzman's departure from the GOP race forces Ritter immediately into the spotlight - for better and worse. And most experts agree the impending five-month battle will be costly, bloody and funded by large amounts of out-of-state money...
"How much damage Holtzman has inflicted on Beauprez over the past few months is unclear, political watchers say. On one hand, Holtzman's blows merely glanced Beauprez's shoulders as he pulled in large campaign donations and racked up high-profile endorsements. But in battling Holtzman, Beauprez moved himself even further to the right, which has already caused some problems. For instance, his continued opposition to Referendum C, which allowed the state to keep billions of dollars in tax revenues that would have otherwise been refunded to voters, has irritated some moderates in the business community."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
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