Senate free-for-all

'08 race likely among nation's fiercest after Allard keeps term-limit promise

M.E. Sprengelmeyer and Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News

Published January 16, 2007 at midnight

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Sen. Wayne Allard touched off a scramble for his U.S. Senate seat on Monday, when he announced he will stand by his term-limits pledge and retire in 2008.

A long list of would-be replacements, from a talk show host to current and former politicians, began jockeying behind the scenes after Allard, 63, joined friends, allies and reporters at the state Capitol to say he's content to go back to being a "country veterinarian."

Allard, a Republican from Loveland, said it was "not a difficult decision," considering he had championed voluntary term limits for 24 years in elective office and that he won the Senate seat in 1996 promising to serve a maximum of two six-year terms.

"The people placed their trust in me based on a promise I made to them, and I am honoring that promise," Allard said. "In an age when promises are cast away as quickly as yesterday's newspaper, I believe a promise made should be a promise kept."

Even before Allard took to the podium, political analysts were predicting that an open- seat fight could turn Colorado into a closely watched battlegrounds in 2008, when the White House also will be up for grabs.

On the Democratic side, Rep. Mark Udall, of Eldorado Springs, has about $1.3 million in a congressional committee campaign fund that he could transfer to a Senate run, although he says he has not made a final decision.

Another Democrat, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, often is mentioned for statewide races. But he downplayed that talk on Monday, citing the need to continue working on city issues such as homelessness and Denver's role hosting the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Meanwhile, some possible Republican contenders weren't waiting for the dust to settle.

Former Congressman Scott McInnis, now a lobbyist for Hogan & Hartson in Denver, has been making countless calls in recent days, trying to line up supporters. He has more than $900,000 left in a congressional campaign committee account he could tap.

On Monday, two men who were once considered possible contenders for Allard's seat, former Gov. Bill Owens and Rep. Tom Tancredo, of Littleton, both said McInnis was at the top of their list of would-be candidates.

McInnis did not return phone messages seeking comment.

Other Republicans who said they will consider running for Allard's seat include former congressmen Bob Beauprez and Bob Schaffer, who now serves on the state board of education; Attorney General John Suthers; and radio talk show host and lawyer Dan Caplis.

Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman also has been mentioned as a possible candidate.

Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway has no intention of running, a spokeswoman said.

While political analysts looked ahead, Allard's friends, allies and colleagues lauded Allard as a soft-spoken figure who has lived up to his "citizen legislator" mantra.

He has been more folksy than flashy during his 24 years in elective office, starting with eight years in the state Senate, six years in the U.S. House of Representatives and 10 years so far in the U.S. Senate.

"Senator Allard's great political strength was that Coloradans could look at him and say, 'He is like me. He works hard every day,' " said Republican strategist Dick Wadhams, a former Allard campaign manager.

Allard has been a champion of fiscal discipline and traditional social values. That includes two unsuccessful bids to pass a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Allies like to say Allard has been a "work horse" rather than a "show horse" in Congress.

"He really has served Colorado with distinction," said Owens. "There's something to be said for someone who stays in touch with all 64 counties in the state and does his job day in and day out."

Still, Time magazine in 2005 dubbed Allard "The Invisible Man" and one of the five "worst" U.S. senators.

Longtime Allard chief of staff Sean Conway dismissed the ranking as "laughable," citing the senator's accomplishments, including cutting years off the schedule for the cleanup of the former nuclear weapons plant at Rocky Flats; defending the state's military installations from base closings; and spearheading the investigation into sexual assaults at the Air Force Academy.

Allard was the only one from the nine-member state delegation to sit on the Appropriations Committee, key to securing federal funds for the state.

But Allard might be remembered just as much for his down-home appeal and affable manner than his legislative record.

Allard always has played up his roots as a veterinarian. He bragged Monday that he has kept his certifications current so he can step right back into the job.

"Politically speaking, he's one of the most underestimated politicians that I know," Schaffer said. "Every race he has been in, the media predicted him to lose.

"He must have learned something from all those felines he served as a veterinarian because he has a remarkable ability to land on his feet."

Allard's political career milestones

• Political service: Served in the Colorado Senate from 1982 to 1990; represented the 4th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1990 to 1996; elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996 and 2002.

• Rocky Flats: Led an effort to expedite the cleanup of the former nuclear weapons plant. The project was completed in 2005, a year ahead of the original schedule.

• T-REX: In 1998, authored an amendment to a massive transportation bill that cleared the way for metro communities to build the T-REX highway and transit project.

• Land preservation: Helped protect pristine sites in Colorado, including the newly created Great Sand Dunes National Park.

• Air Force Academy scandal: As a member of the Armed Services Committee in 2003, he spearheaded an investigation into Air Force Academy's sexual assault scandal.

• Same-sex marriage: In 2004 and 2006, he joined Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., in unsuccessful efforts to pass a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

• Committee work: In 2005, he was given a seat on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which helps decide which projects get federal funding.

• Allard vs. Time: In April 2006, Time magazine called Allard one of the five worst senators. Allard chief of staff Sean Conway said the magazine ignored the senator's lower-profile successes for Colorado.

A wide-open field

Here are some of the people mentioned as possible candidates to replace Sen. Wayne Allard

DEMOCRATS

• Rep. Mark Udall, Eldorado Springs

Has been trying to position himself as the presumed Democratic nominee for 2008 ever since he jumped in and out of the race in 2004 for Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell's seat.

Udall: "My plans for 2008 will not be affected by who the Republican candidate will be. I will have a formal announcement about these plans at a time and place of my choosing. Today is Sen. Allard's day."

• Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper

Took a pass on the 2006 governor's race, but some Democrats see him as a having nonpartisan appeal statewide. Says he absolutely won't run if Udall gets in the race.

Hickenlooper: "I think I've got my hands full being mayor."

REPUBLICANS

• Former Rep. Scott McInnis, Grand Junction

Has made countless phone calls to line up support and discourage other potential candidates.

Republican strategist Dick Wadhams: "Former Congressman McInnis has probably been the most active in letting folks know he is interested in running."

• Former Rep. Bob Schaffer, Fort Collins

Like Allard, Schaffer honored a term-limits pledge when he left Congress in 2002.

Schaffer: "If I got 10 bucks from everyone who called me in the last month asking me (about a Senate race), I'd be able to fund the campaign. My assessment of the situation won't rely on any potential candidates."

• Former Rep. Bob Beauprez, Lafayette

Despite his sound defeat in the recent gubernatorial election, he hasn't ruled out another run for higher office. Beauprez spokesman Allen Fuller: "Having just moved back home to Lafayette last week, he doesn't plan on making any decisions about the 2008 Senate race until he unpacks a few more boxes."

• State Attorney General John Suthers

Has a broad law-and-order background as a prosecutor, head of the state prison system, U.S. attorney and attorney general.

Suthers: "Frankly, I just got sworn in as attorney general last week. It's early for me to say one way or another. I'm not prepared to say I'm in. I'm not prepared to say I'm out."

• Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman

His resume includes two terms as state treasurer, terms in both the state House and Senate, and service with the Army and Marines.

Spokesman Jonathan Tee: "As secretary of state, he is very much focused on the task at hand, specifically on restoring public confidence in the election process. The announcement of Sen. Allard is partisan in nature, and it would not be appropriate for him to comment as secretary of state."

• Radio talk show host Dan Caplis

Will spend the next few months traveling the state and talking with people about whether he should run.

Caplis: "I was asked to run, and I said if Sen. Allard decided not to run, I'd consider it. I'm going to take a few months to decide. It will be a family decision in the end."

• Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Littleton

Has mentioned a possible Senate race in the past but also is eyeing a possible White House bid to promote his illegal immigration agenda.

Spokesman Carlos Espinosa: Tancredo hopes McInnis runs for the Senate seat.

• Former Gov. Bill Owens

Owens: "I'm not going to be a candidate for the U.S. Senate. I'm six days into the private sector and enjoying it immensely."

• Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway

A well-known Republican, his name gets mentioned when statewide races open.

Executive assistant Kathy Hatch: "He doesn't have any intentions of running."

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