February 08, 2011 09:46 PM UTC

Harvey vs. Call vs...

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• by: Colorado Pols

In the aftermath of Colorado GOP chairman Dick Wadhams’ surprising–only due to belatedness, as we’ll explain–decision to give up his bid for re-election, all eyes are on two possible replacements: the announced bid of state Sen. Ted Harvey, and the widely-expected entry into the race by attorney and former Denver GOP chair Ryan Call.

Both Harvey and Call bring strengths that would serve the GOP well. Right now, Harvey is ahead in terms of formalizing support for his bid, having lined up most of the GOP caucus in the legislature as endorsers. His better-than-expected organization is in all likelihood one of the reasons Wadhams dropped out. Ryan Call, on the other hand, is smart but lacking in the same kind of hands-on experience as Harvey. Call also seems to have made some “frenemies,” as a recent complaint against him reported by Lynn Bartels over his residency from a fellow Republican hints.

Other than the obvious question of his successor, the biggest question remaining in this story is why Wadhams dropped out when he did. To be clear, there are a long list of reasons why Wadhams has arguably lost support within the party, going back through years of alleged favoritism and questionable management. But all of these were very well known issues before Wadhams announced he would run again last month. What changed between then and yesterday? Was it Harvey’s backup? Call’s willingness? It’s been suggested to us that he was running again mostly because he didn’t really have anyplace else to go. So perhaps he found such a place? Any one of a bunch of hot 2012 Senate races?

Or was he really just tired of being “teabagged,” like he says?