The plagiarism scandal surrounding GOP gubernatorial hopeful Scott McInnis has pushed another familiar Colorado Republican back into the political spotlight.
Former Rep. Tom Tancredo was the overwhelming choice of Colorado Republicans if Mr. McInnis withdraws from the race, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted after the plagiarism allegations broke last week.
The survey of 429 Colorado Republicans found that 29 percent see Mr. Tancredo as "the strongest Republican candidate for governor," followed by Mr. McInnis with 19 percent. "Not sure" came in third, while the race's other Republican candidate, businessman Dan Maes, came in fourth with 13 percent.
The results surprised Mr. Tancredo.
"I was flabbergasted," said Mr. Tancredo in an interview Sunday with The Washington Times. "I was amazed."
Mr. Tancredo, best known nationally for his opposition to illegal immigration and his bid for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, said a number of things would have to happen before his name appears on a ballot. First of all, Mr. McInnis would need to withdraw.
Mr. McInnis said in an e-mail to supporters that he's "in it to win it."
Even Republicans who think Mr. McInnis has no shot aren't pushing him out the door just yet. Party insiders acknowledge that the best-case scenario would be for Mr. McInnis to stay in the race, win the Aug. 10 primary and then immediately drop out.
If Mr. McInnis withdraws before Aug. 10, then Mr. Maes, a little-known newcomer who's already raised controversy over his campaign spending, would become the candidate by default. Much better for the GOP would be for Mr. McInnis to bow out after winning the primary, which then would allow the state party's vacancy committee to choose a replacement.
Mr. McInnis made no public appearances over the weekend, but he did tell supporters at a private fundraiser in Silt, Colo., that he wouldn't step aside after the primary.
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