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'Do or die' for Tancredo

M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News

Published January 12, 2007 at midnight

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WASHINGTON — Rep. Tom Tancredo is about to launch one last "gut-check," "do-or-die," water-testing visit to Iowa this weekend, and then he'll decide whether to run for president.

Tancredo, R-Littleton, has spent two years toying with the idea of a longshot presidential bid in 2008, and he has made several scouting trips to early caucus or primary states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

This afternoon, he was scheduled to leave for three days of meetings with key Republican players in Des Moines, Council Bluffs and elsewhere, and then decide soon thereafter whether he wants to join the race or do something else, spokesman Carlos Espinosa said Friday.

"In the past, he went out there to force the other guys to talk about (immigration)," Espinosa said. "This time, he's going to see essentially what the chances of somebody like Tom would be in the caucus, with all things considered."

"This is kind of a gut-check for Tom," Espinosa said. "He's meeting with these people to see if there's a calling for someone like him. This is going to be a do-or-die thing for Tom."

Tancredo must weigh his chances in Iowa, where top-tier Republicans like Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are considered the front-runners in a crowded field.

At the same time, Tancredo is among those Colorado Republicans waiting to hear whether or not Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Loveland, will seek re-election or retire in 2008. Allard is expected to announce a decision within days, and, if Allard retires, Tancredo has said he might consider the race.

Tancredo's Iowa trip started as a scheduled stop on his tour to promote the book, "In Mortal Danger." But it has turned into the pivotal testing-the-waters moment, Espinosa said.

"This is more of a decision-making type of meeting," Espinosa said of planned gatherings with grassroots activists, party leaders and political insiders. "What he gets out of it will probably lead to an eventual decision."