June 13, 2007 08:16 PM UTC

Penry Courted for Senate Run

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• by: Colorado Pols

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

A vocal group of moderate Republicans have been courting state Sen. Josh Penry to run for the U.S. Senate in 2008. Penry has thus far rebuffed those advances, but there must still be an open door because Penry continues to be pushed to run.

The reason Penry is being pushed has more to do with Bob Schaffer than anything else. A growing group of Republicans are convinced that Schaffer is too conservative to win a statewide race and will get trounced by Democrat Mark Udall in 2008. As the thinking goes, if Schaffer runs and loses, then Republicans aren’t left with much of a consolation prize. But even if Penry lost to Udall, he would still have gained valuable statewide name ID for a later run (perhaps even for governor in 2010). If Schaffer loses, the GOP has really gained nothing in defeat; they may actually be worse off, in fact, if Schaffer loses despite running as a staunch conservative.

A candidacy from someone like Penry also has more potential to catch fire than a Schaffer bid. If Schaffer wins in 2008, it will be through a slow and steady approach, but he’s not the kind of personality – nor does he represent the kind of ideas – that could really spark a heated level of interest.

Despite attempts to recruit him, Penry may continue to say no with the thought that 2008 isn’t the right opportunity for him statewide. Either way, it says a lot about the growing belief that while Schaffer may be great for conservatives, he may not be great in a general election.