October 31, 2008 01:14 AM UTC

Beauprez, Tancredo Eye Each Other

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• by: Colorado Pols

Confirming discussion from a few days ago that both Tom Tancredo and Bob Beauprez are considering quixotic also-runs for Governor in 2010, ex-Denver Post reporter Mike Soraghan reports for The Hill:

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), who announced his retirement from Congress last year before his insurgent bid for president flamed out, is weighing a run for governor in Colorado.

Tancredo has already started sounding out potential rivals. Former Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-Colo.), another likely candidate, said Tancredo recently invited him to his office for a political chat. Tancredo told Beauprez of his interest in running, and talked about avoiding a primary.

“He didn’t say he was definitely running. He said he was definitely interested,” Beauprez said. “He said he didn’t think we should have a primary.”

A Tancredo spokesman said Tancredo was on a plane this afternoon and not immediately available for comment.

Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter’s term is up in 2010. Ritter beat Beauprez in 2006, getting 57 percent of the vote to Beauprez’s 40 in a bad year for Republicans. But Republicans say Ritter hasn’t lived up to his campaign rhetoric of being a pro-business Democrat.

Beauprez might be looking for a rematch. But he stresses he hasn’t made a decision. To be a real candidate, Beauprez said he figures someone would need to be “seriously considering” his or her chances by next spring.

“I told Tom that I’m not saying I’m in and I’m not saying I’m out,” Beauprez said…

They don’t call him “Both Ways Bob” for nothing. Democrats, for their part, would be delighted to run against either Tancredo or Beauprez in 2010, which is a pretty good indicator that an even marginally sane GOP won’t let it happen.