November 19, 2008 01:16 AM UTC

Wadhams In, Post Gets Well-Timed Amnesia

• 11 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: Mike Hesse is quoted as out of the running by the same Denver Post–somebody over there took the “amnesia” thing a little personally. Helpful note: deserved ribbing could have been avoided simply by not taking Dick Wadhams at his word when he leans into your personal space and says, “there’s nobody else. Cory, you heard about anybody else? No? See?”

Hesse bowing out is a significant development, though, perhaps signaling that Wadhams is regaining control over the situation–Democrats are ready to say that’s fine with them after this year’s results.

We have reason to believe this isn’t over. In the least. But we’ve been clear all along about the fluidity of the situation, and Wadhams’ bullishly effective persuasion skills. The picture should be clearer in the next few weeks, though possibly much sooner. Original post follows.

The Denver Post reported late yesterday:

The woman the blogosphere went wild over as a possible replacement for state GOP Chairman Dick Wadhams said today that she’s not running against him.

Meanwhile, Wadhams said he plans to officially announce his run in the next day or two.

Mary Smith, the young and energetic fundraising dynamo at the helm of Denver County’s GOP, said that personal considerations are keeping her out of the race.

“I am enthusiastic about everyone being so interested, but I’m not going to run at this time,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of excitement going on within the party right now, and I wish whoever the chairman is the best.”

The conservative news website FacetheState.com named Smith as part of its dream team for new party leadership. And the left-leaning blog ColoradoPols.com called her “a novel and potentially brilliant pick for the job.”

Wadhams has faced criticism from within his own party over his focus on Bob Schaffer’s failed bid for U.S. Senate, which some say came at the expense of down-ticket races…

Whether it’s a “left-wing blogosphere conspiracy,” as Wadhams’ friend Rep. Cory Gardner suspects, or there is an actual threat to the chairman’s tenure remains to be seen.

No candidate has yet stepped forward publicly to face off against Wadhams, and several GOP insiders say they know of no challenger.

Except all-but-announced Scott McInnis ally Mike Hesse, who the Colorado Statesman reported over a week ago has “been building a coalition to oust Wadhams when the Colorado Republican Central Committee convenes to elect party officers in March.” There is nothing to suggest that has changed.

Politicker reports that yet another person who had been “approached” to run against Wadhams, El Paso County GOP chair Greg Garcia, will defer now that Wadhams has formally announced. We hadn’t actually heard his name come up, but it’s not surprising that he was approached.

Which only leaves Mark Hillman, Bill Armstrong, Tom Minnery, Sean Duffy, and an unknown number of others to make up their minds. Frankly, the McInnis/Hesse challenge is emerging as the most credible, simply because they seem to be the only ones with the stones to stand up to Wadhams.

You bet, Post, there’s nothing to see here. “Several GOP insiders” probably means more than two–so fair-haired boy Cory Gardner, Dick Wadhams and at least one other “insider” haven’t heard anything about this.

Unfortunately, they and the Post newsroom are the only ones who haven’t.