Waiting For Walker: Stapleton Will Enter Race as Frontrunner

11 Comments

by: Colorado Pols

The 2018 Colorado GOP gubernatorial primary has attracted a hefty pool of candidates, but there’s a reason why nobody in the race today has much in the way of traction: the all-but-certain imminent entry into the race of who should on paper be the frontrunner the moment he announces: Colorado Treasurer Walker Stapleton.

As the Denver Post reported early this month, Stapleton has been building up his “independent” campaign apparatus for some time now without having formally declared his candidacy for governor. The arrangement allows Stapleton to personally steer contributions to the independent group supporting him, exploiting a loophole in the law that as we discussed before more or less makes a joke of the notion that these entities should remain separate and uncoordinated. It also potentially gives future Stapleton campaign staff a place to draw a paycheck from before the campaign launches.

As for exactly when Stapleton gets into the race, there’s some debate on the best timing–waiting for any other big-name challengers to make their intentions clear can be a good strategy, but it can also leave a candidate with erstwhile supporters locked up with rivals before they even enter the race. Of course, since Walker’s entry one way or the other is a foregone conclusion at this point, that’s maybe not as big a consideration.

There’s little question that once Stapleton enters the race, the stakes for other GOP candidates rise dramatically. Stapleton’s ability to raise funds as a close cousin of the Bush family, not to mention his personal wealth if needed, make him a major threat. His experience as a statewide elected official eclipses other officeholding contenders (here’s looking at you, George Brauchler). Stapleton is also largely free of involvement in recent Colorado GOP intraparty squabbles. If we were laying odds on when Stapleton gets in, we would guess he’ll wait until well after Labor Day–and give himself the last splash.

And then, unless something unpredictable happens, he’s the candidate to beat.

11 thoughts on “Waiting For Walker: Stapleton Will Enter Race as Frontrunner”

Moderatus says:

August 29, 2017 at 11:07 am

I welcome Treasurer Stapleton to the race, but don't ever write off George Brauchler. I believe Brauchler can beat Stapleton. I like Cynthia Coffman but she will have trouble attracting enough support.

All of these candidates are more than a match for Jared Schutz Polis.

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1. RepealAndReplace says:
  
  August 29, 2017 at 11:09 am
  
  This from the little man who was plugging Gessler in '14.
  
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2. flatiron says:
  
  August 29, 2017 at 11:13 am
  
  Polis won't be the nominee. He gets Boulder. Johnston gets Jeffco. Kennedy gets all the rest
  
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  1. Pseudonymous says:
    
    August 29, 2017 at 11:35 am
    
    Didn't Kennedy already lose to Stapleton when she was the incumbent?
    
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    1. RepealAndReplace says:
      
      August 29, 2017 at 11:37 am
      
      Well yes. OTOH, Polis won his one and only statewide race for at large board of education seat against an incumbent.
      
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      1. Voyageur says:
        
        August 29, 2017 at 7:52 pm
        
        Yes, but polis spent about a million dollars to narrowly defeat a former state senator who spent virtually nothing.
        
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    2. OrangeFree says:
      
      August 29, 2017 at 12:14 pm
      
      In 2010, a GOP wave year, and only barely. The State has changed a bit demographically since then.
      
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      1. JohnInDenver says:
        
        August 30, 2017 at 4:23 pm
        
        Not only has there been a demographic change — but Stapleton and Kennedy have gone on to different experiences. The Republican Party in Colorado looks less unified now than in 2010, too.
        
        Toss in that Dems are a bit better at organizing in response to Republican astro-turf efforts from the Tea Party and likely will have a burst of enthusiasm in US House races, and the 2010 Kennedy loss won't look nearly so significant as a portent.
        
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3. Voyageur says:
  
  August 29, 2017 at 11:25 am
  
  I share Moddy's view that Brauchler can beat Stapleton. But Cary Kennedy could beat either one like a rug.
  
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4. unnamed says:
  
  August 29, 2017 at 11:39 am
  
  Moldy you pathetic wannabe Nazi. Sticking with fellow Nazi Ted Nugent's favorite CO-Gov candidate.
  
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spaceman65 says:

August 29, 2017 at 11:44 am

I welcome anyone in the race who can reduce the chances of tweety bird georgie boy getting the nomination. We have enough dipshit alt-right types in the state government already.

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