Sen. Allard is not seeking re-election

[GardeningGal]

DENVER -- With his wife by his side, Sen. Wayne Allard first told 7NEWS Monday that he is keeping his term-limit pledge and will not run for a third term in the U.S. Senate.

"There were a lot of people that talked to me about continuing to run in the Republican Party. We appreciate their confidence and everything. But, you know, I just feel that the prevailing thing that you got to keep in mind is your commitments. I kept all my campaign commitments, except for one, and now I've completed that one, and that is my term limit pledge," Allard told 7NEWS.

Allard then made his official announcement on the steps of the Capitol about an hour later.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/politics/10751088/detail.html



DENVER (AP) - Colorado Republican Sen. Wayne Allard said Monday he will not run for re-election in 2008 but will honor a pledge he made in 1996 to serve only two terms.


"Today, I'm announcing that I will honor my term limits pledge to the people of Colorado," he said.

The decision sets up a wide-open race. Allard's seat was once considered safe for the GOP, but Colorado voters have shown a penchant lately for replacing Republicans with Democrats.

Democrats see the race as a chance to pick up another vote in Congress after wresting two House seats and a Senate seat from Republicans the past two years. Republicans hope to stanch a long series of losses, including both houses of the state Legislature and the governor's office.

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=63194

[eleny]

1. I guess it's just not fun when you're in the minority!

This is the best news!!!

[meldroc]

2. I wonder what raving lunatic the GOP will nominate to replace him?

I'm morbidly curious...

[RobertDevereaux]

3. That right-wing nutjob Bob Schaeffer of course...

From the Wash Post 2 months ago:

Colorado -- Wayne Allard (R): Allard has yet to make a decision on whether he will run for a third term in 2006. He had previously pledged to serve just two terms, and his meager campaign cash balance -- $119,000 -- seems to suggest he will keep that oath. Regardless of whether Allard runs, Democratic Rep. Mark Udall is in the race and is the likely frontrunner; he showed more than $1.2 million on hand just prior to this month's election. Another name mentioned is Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, but after his long -- and ultimately unsatisfying -- flirtation with the 2006 governor's race, we aren't waiting with bated breath. Should Allard step aside, expect former GOP Reps. Scot McInnis and Bob Schaeffer to look seriously at running. Former Gov. Bill Owens's name will also be mentioned but that seems like a longshot at the moment. Given Democrats' gains in the last two cycles in Colorado -- picking up two House seats, a Senate seat and the governorship -- this will be one of the marquee races of the cycle.


No doubt bad ol' Bob is slithering in the back halls right now.