Post by Okwes on Jan 6, 2006 0:37:04 GMT -5
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell Will Not Run
Politics drive away Colorado politicians
Former senator: Conservative Republicans repelling candidates
Tuesday, January 3, 2006; Posted: 11:01 p.m. EST (04:01 GMT)
Former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell says some Republicans
want "absolute obedience" to a conservative agenda.
Republican former Campbell said Tuesday he will not run for Colorado
governor this year, accusing conservative Republicans of driving away
good candidates.
"You can't be held to a strict ideological code that you can't do
anything about," said Campbell, 72, a former Democrat who was the
only American Indian in the Senate from 1992 to 2004.
"What they want is absolute obedience," said Campbell, who became a
Republican in 1995. He refused to name the GOP leaders.
Campbell had mentioned running for governor as early as September
2004, after announcing he would not seek another term in the Senate.
On Tuesday he said the prospect of long hours, low pay, high stress
and "constant attacks" were also factors in his decision.
"If you read it in the classifieds, nobody would run for that job,"
Campbell said. "I wasn't worried about losing, I was afraid of
winning," he said.
Campbell declined to endorse either Republican in the race, Rep. Bob
Beauprez and former University of Denver President Marc Holtzman.
Former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, whose opposition to
abortion worries some in his party, and Gary Lindstrom, a freshman
state lawmaker, are the only Democrats in the race.
Gov. Bill Owens, a Republican, is barred from running for re-election
because of term limits.
Earlier Tuesday two moderate Republicans in the Colorado Legislature
also cited politics in key decisions: Rep. Mark Larson decided not to
run for state Senate, blaming arm-twisting by conservatives, and Sen.
Norma Anderson resigned because "it has become too partisan for me."
Independent pollster Floyd Ciruli said the GOP's problems in Colorado
could prevent Republicans from regaining control of the state House
and Senate, which they lost in 2004 for the first time in 42 years.
Politics drive away Colorado politicians
Former senator: Conservative Republicans repelling candidates
Tuesday, January 3, 2006; Posted: 11:01 p.m. EST (04:01 GMT)
Former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell says some Republicans
want "absolute obedience" to a conservative agenda.
Republican former Campbell said Tuesday he will not run for Colorado
governor this year, accusing conservative Republicans of driving away
good candidates.
"You can't be held to a strict ideological code that you can't do
anything about," said Campbell, 72, a former Democrat who was the
only American Indian in the Senate from 1992 to 2004.
"What they want is absolute obedience," said Campbell, who became a
Republican in 1995. He refused to name the GOP leaders.
Campbell had mentioned running for governor as early as September
2004, after announcing he would not seek another term in the Senate.
On Tuesday he said the prospect of long hours, low pay, high stress
and "constant attacks" were also factors in his decision.
"If you read it in the classifieds, nobody would run for that job,"
Campbell said. "I wasn't worried about losing, I was afraid of
winning," he said.
Campbell declined to endorse either Republican in the race, Rep. Bob
Beauprez and former University of Denver President Marc Holtzman.
Former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, whose opposition to
abortion worries some in his party, and Gary Lindstrom, a freshman
state lawmaker, are the only Democrats in the race.
Gov. Bill Owens, a Republican, is barred from running for re-election
because of term limits.
Earlier Tuesday two moderate Republicans in the Colorado Legislature
also cited politics in key decisions: Rep. Mark Larson decided not to
run for state Senate, blaming arm-twisting by conservatives, and Sen.
Norma Anderson resigned because "it has become too partisan for me."
Independent pollster Floyd Ciruli said the GOP's problems in Colorado
could prevent Republicans from regaining control of the state House
and Senate, which they lost in 2004 for the first time in 42 years.