June 15, 2007 08:28 PM UTC

Penry Declines Senate Run, Confirms Discussion

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• by: Colorado Pols

In response to our article on the courting of state Sen. Josh Penry to run for Colorado’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2008, we received this email yesterday afternoon:

Coloradopols,

I’m not running for the U.S. Senate.  A newly-elected, 31-year-old State Senator makes about as much sense in this race as a liberal, peaceknik, environmentalist from Boulder whose defining legislative accomplishment is an earmark for a wildlife bridge across I-70.

And more important, I support Bob Schaffer, and I look forward to doing what I can to help him on the West Slope.  I have every confidence that  Republicans will rally behind Bob, both because he’s a truly quality human being (Remember Bob on the bus with Pete the day after that messy primary?) and because the other guy is a Boulder liberal straight out of central casting. 

You really should change the line on this race.

Sincerely,

Josh

Ps – I enjoy your blog and the insights of your bloggers – yes, even yours Ralphie.

In a follow up email, Penry did confirm that he was approached about running, but we accept his reasoning that now probably isn’t the right time for him. Like we pointed out before, the reason he was being approached to begin with has more to do with GOP candidate Bob Schaffer than anything else.

Bottom line: as we said on Wednesday, the notion that everyone in the Republican Party is coalescing behind Schaffer isn’t entirely accurate. Whether that unease manifests itself in the form of a primary challenger or a significant change in Schaffer’s problematic image is yet to be seen.