April 23, 2010 07:56 PM UTC

Will Tim Tebow Affect The 2010 Colorado Midterm Elections?

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• by: redstateblues

The decision by the Denver Broncos to draft University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow last night in the first round of the NFL draft was controversial among football fans in Colorado and all over the country, but could it prove to be even more controversial during the election here?

Tebow, an outspoken Pro-Life advocate, starred in an ad with his mother during this year’s Super Bowl that stirred up emotions on the issue of abortion. The ad was paid for by Colorado-based Focus on the Family.

With the start of the NFL season conveniently coinciding with the final push for votes in the coming election, will Republicans use Tebow to their advantage?

If they tried to, and he went along with it, he wouldn’t be the first Denver Broncos quarterback to mix sports with politics. John Elway is almost as synonymous with the Republican Party as he is with the game of football. In addition to his financial support of the GOP, Elway is biennially discussed as a potential candidate for office. The Republicans haven’t stopped at QBs either–All-Pro free safety John Lynch was involved in both fundraising and discussions of running for office.

Obviously Tebow has some football to play before he can get too involved in Colorado politics, but given his recent history, it’s not that big of a leap to suggest that if he has success, that it may translate into more forays into politics. Of course, if the Republicans are going to try to use him to motivate the base, they risk bringing up the most divisive social issue in American politics in a year when their strategy is to try to stay away from the culture wars.

Whatever effect Tim Tebow has on this state–either on the gridiron, or the political podium–one thing is clear: controversy will follow him throughout his rookie season.