Opinion: Did anyone ever check HIS papers?
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You may remember among the really major news stories of Wednesday was the minor announcement by Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo that he would have a major announcement today in Des Moines.
Once everyone was reminded of who Tom Tancredo was -- the six-term Colorado House member who’s really, really against illegal immigration -- there was immediate speculation that he was surrendering to political realities or, put another way, quitting the race for the GOP nomination.
Today in Des Moines, The Times’ ubiquitous Maria LaGanga reports, at what was probably the biggest turnout for a Tancredo press conference of his entire campaign, the diminutive representative confirmed the end of his candidacy, which follows the previous departures of James Gilmore, Tommy Thompson and Sam Brownback.
His departure leaves the Republican field at seven -- two representatives -- Duncan Hunter and Ron Paul; one senator -- John McCain; and several former somethings -- Sen. Fred Thompson, Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Govs. Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee.
But Tancredo framed the event as a way to thank his loyal staff and get ‘everyone together for a surprise party...Thanks for coming.’ Today also happened to be Tancredo’s 62d birthday, coming just two weeks before the Iowa caucuses.
Oh, and as for the GOP race itself? Tancredo added that as he was stepping down, he was throwing his inconsiderable support behind former Massachusetts Gov. Romney. Tancredo said Romney has the best track record on the issue that the Coloradan holds dearest: “the perilous consequences of massive uncontrolled illegal immigration.” And he later told Fox News Romney’s ‘got the best shot.’
Although Tancredo’s bid barely registered in the polls, he said Thursday that it was worth it because, in all modesty, he felt he’d changed the shape of the contest itself.
“Just this month,’ Tancredo said, ‘the Economist, the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal and even the New York Times have grudgingly accredited my campaign with forcing the issue of immigration to the forefront of the national stage.”
Not only that, he said, but he’d forced “nearly every Republican Presidential candidate to commit themselves to an immigration plan that calls for securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws.”
What Tancredo did not mention, of course, was that being seen on national TV debates didn’t hurt his exposure and statewide name recognition back home in Colorado, where he’s fully expected to run for the vacant Senate seat next year. See how everything is connected?
--Andrew Malcolm