UPDATE: The Denver Post is reporting that Tipton might still run against Bennet. At least that’s what the article implied.
The relevant passage is worded so poorly we’re not exactly sure what the Hell the reporter meant:
But in a follow-up email to Tipton’s office on Monday, spokesman Josh Green said the official word was a definite maybe. Or a maybe – definitely. (Note the word “currently” in the below statement).
“Congressman Tipton is currently focused on running for re-election in the 3rd Congressional District and working on the major issues coming before the House this week including the omnibus,” Green said.
ORIGINAL POST
Scott Tipton says he won’t run against U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and will instead seek reelection to this congressional seat representing the Western Slope.
Roll Call reported Tipton’s decision and insinuated that there doesn’t seem to be any Republicans strong enough to unseat the unpopular incumbent in the contest the D.C. publication insists leans Democrat.
“You know, we’ve got a lot of issue we’re working on that are incredibly important for my part of the state and our state at large. And we’ve had some success, and that’s where we’re focused,” Tipton said.
We think Tipton would have been a strong contender against Bennet, whose poll numbers show only 30 percent of Coloradans think the Democrat deserves to be reelected.
But it’s still early enough in the game for a GOP candidate to come forward and whip Bennet. After all, U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner didn’t announce his campaign until about eight months before Election Day when he trounced Mark Udall.
Some Republicans are trying to recruit state Rep. Jon Keyser to run for the seat. According to the Colorado Statesman, Keyser is strongly considering a run against Bennet and has already gathered strong financial backing.
Following a recent visit to Washington, D.C., where Keyser attended the Republican Jewish Coalition’s presidential forum luncheon last week as an invited guest on a day off from his duties, he received $3 million in commitments of soft money to back his campaign, said a source familiar with the matter.
Candidates who have already announced their intention to run in the 2016 Senate race against Bennet include Republicans Sen. Tim Neville of Littleton, El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn, former Aurora Councilman Ryan Frazier and Jefferson County Commissioner Don Rosier.
Also considering a run are businessman Robert Blaha, El Paso County Commissioner Peggy Littleton and state Sen. Ray Scott of Grand Junction.