Robert Blaha Makes Senate Bid Official

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by: Colorado Pols

Not Robert Blaha

And then there were…seven? Or is it eight?

Republican businessman Robert Blaha finally announced his U.S. Senate campaign today after months of fooling around. Blaha “announced” back in September that he would eventually “announce” that he was running for Senate, and here we are at last.

John Frank (again) has the news for the Denver Post:

Republican Robert Blaha officially announced his U.S. Senate bid Thursday with a pledge: “If I am not able to reduce illegal immigration by 50 percent, drastically cut the deficit, and help fix this horrific tax system, I’ll voluntarily leave after one term.”

“We actually making what we call a product guarantee and we are calling the Robert Blaha Product Guarantee,” the Colorado Springs businessman said in an interview with The Denver Post minutes before his official announcement on Fox News radio 600 KCOL. “We are asking to be held accountable and we are laying some very specific criteria up there. You either perform or you leave.”

Yeah, sure, whatever.

This is Robert Blaha

Regardless, we can’t completely dismiss Blaha because he has proven in the past that he is willing to write big checks to his own campaign (Blaha spent about $800k back in 2012 in a losing bid to knock off Congressman Doug Lamborn). Blaha is going to need to get money from somewhere, because he already has a pretty sizable staff:

His team includes campaign manager Katey Price and consultant Jordan Gerhke, who worked on the 2008 Republican presidential campaign and drew criticism for his work with a direct mail firm. The pollster is Gene Ulm with Public Opinion Strategies. The communications director is Rachel Keane.

So many Colorado Republicans have talked about a 2016 Senate race that we’re having a hard time keeping track of the total count. We’ll call it 8: Tim Neville, Darryl Glenn, Robert Blaha, Ryan Frazier, Jon Keyser, Greg Lopez, Peggy Littleton, and Don Rosier. Former Colorado State University Athletic Director Jack Graham may still get in the mix as well.

Raise your hand if you want to take a shot! There’s still time for Ryan Frazier to include your name in his next internal poll.

6 thoughts on “Robert Blaha Makes Senate Bid Official”

FrankUnderwood says:

January 14, 2016 at 1:48 pm

I'll bet Blaha felt that he had to jump in now what with Timmy and the Kaiser off and running, and Ryan Frazier finishing in first place (with 18%) in Frazier's own internal poll.

And there is no truth to the rumor that the pool of those polled consisted of 50 names on the Frazier friends and family Christmas card list.

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itlduso says:

January 14, 2016 at 2:42 pm

Is Bob Blaha associated with Bob Loblaw's law blog? (Tobias Funke knows of what I speak.)

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1. Gray in Mountains says:
  
  January 14, 2016 at 3:38 pm
  
  Say it fast
  
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  1. notaskinnycook says:
    
    January 15, 2016 at 1:00 am
    
    Got it.
    
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Phoenix Rising says:

January 15, 2016 at 10:31 am

I have to admit, that's one of the most concise Republican policy statements I've ever seen. He hits immigrants, government spending, taxes, and term limits in one short sentence.

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JohnInDenver says:

January 15, 2016 at 11:45 am

Blaha: “If I am not able to reduce illegal immigration by 50 percent, drastically cut the deficit, and help fix this horrific tax system, I’ll voluntarily leave after one term.”

Since the major driver in illegal immigration appears to be economic opportunity, what sort of economic hit will the rest of us have to face for him to reach his goal?

And I am constantly amused by people running for office who have NEVER held office before claiming they will be able to do great things. What sort of fairy dust does he think he will use to convince 6 (present level) to 14 (possible pick-ups) Senate Democrats to agree with an approach to cut the deficit or fix the tax system?

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