A group of 20 influential Colorado Republicans announced their support for third party candidate Tom Tancredo for Governor on Wednesday, abandoning their party's nominee, Dan Maes.
In a statement to the Denver Post, the defecting Republicans questioned Maes's ability to run an effective campaign:
Citing concerns over Maes credibility, as well as his ability to wage a winning campaign, defectors said Tancredo was the only candidate armed with the necessary conservative credentials and fund-raising prowess to beat Democrat John Hickenlooper.
"The narrative has been written about Dan Maes and the weakness of his campaign. He can't overcome it and beat Hickenlooper," said Republican state Sen. Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch. "We've worked very hard in the conservative trenches to have an opportunity like this ... and Tom Trancredo is the only strong conservative in the race who can raise money and out on a credible campaign."
Tancredo, a lifelong Republican who once represented Colorado's 6th Congressional District as a member of the GOP, entered the race as the nominee of the American Constitution Party in July after issuing an ultimatum for both Republican candidates to end their campaigns.
Neither Republican candidate--both of whom were dogged by ethical questions--dropped their campaign, and the primary was ultimately won by Maes, who has since been plagued by even more questions about his fitness for office.
Most polling has shown Tancredo and Maes dividing the conservative vote, giving Democrat John Hickenlooper an enormous advantage.
Last week, after reports surfaced that Maes had embellished accounts of his time as a Kansas police officer, several influential Republicans announced they no longer supported the GOP nominee. On Friday, Maes announced that he was staying in the race despite pressure from the party to drop out.
News of the Republicans' support for Tancredo coincides with the release of campaign finance disclosures show the Tancredo, a former Presidential candidate, outraising Maes four-to-one.
The Republican Governor's Association also suggested this week that it would not help bankroll Maes's struggling campaign.