Tancredo gets big Tea Party endorsement
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</td><td valign="top"> By: CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser
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(CNN) - Tom Tancredo's third party bid for Colorado governor is getting a big endorsement from a leading member of the Tea Party movement.
The chairman of the Tea Party Express, one of the most well-known and politically active national Tea Party organizations, on Monday endorsed Tancredo.
"Tom Tancredo has always been there for the constitutional conservative principles that drive the tea party movement, and I am honored to support him," said Amy Kremer, in a statement.
Tancredo, a former congressman who's been extremely outspoken on the issue of illegal immigration, is running for governor as the American Constitution Party's nominee.
Dan Maes, who enjoyed the backing of some in the Tea Party movement, narrowly beat former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis in the GOP gubernatorial primary in August, despite several campaign controversies. After his victory, Maes faced calls by many prominent Republicans in his state to step down, and national Republicans seemed to have washed their hands of the race.
"It is time for Republican Dan Maes to end his campaign, endorse Mr. Tancredo, and do what is right and best for the people of Colorado," added Kremer.
Kremer's comments come as the Tea Party Express's fourth bus tour makes it's way across the country. Kremer's backing of Tancredo is a personal endorsement, as the Tea Party Express, a federal PAC, does not make endorsement in state or local races.
The most recent surveys of likely voters in Colorado indicate that Tancredo trails Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, the Democrat's nominee, by around 10 points, with Maes a distant third.
<table class="cnn_avtr cnn_pt_tmar4 cnn_pt_avtr" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr><td valign="top">
</td><td valign="top"> By: CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
(CNN) - Tom Tancredo's third party bid for Colorado governor is getting a big endorsement from a leading member of the Tea Party movement.
The chairman of the Tea Party Express, one of the most well-known and politically active national Tea Party organizations, on Monday endorsed Tancredo.
"Tom Tancredo has always been there for the constitutional conservative principles that drive the tea party movement, and I am honored to support him," said Amy Kremer, in a statement.
Tancredo, a former congressman who's been extremely outspoken on the issue of illegal immigration, is running for governor as the American Constitution Party's nominee.
Dan Maes, who enjoyed the backing of some in the Tea Party movement, narrowly beat former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis in the GOP gubernatorial primary in August, despite several campaign controversies. After his victory, Maes faced calls by many prominent Republicans in his state to step down, and national Republicans seemed to have washed their hands of the race.
"It is time for Republican Dan Maes to end his campaign, endorse Mr. Tancredo, and do what is right and best for the people of Colorado," added Kremer.
Kremer's comments come as the Tea Party Express's fourth bus tour makes it's way across the country. Kremer's backing of Tancredo is a personal endorsement, as the Tea Party Express, a federal PAC, does not make endorsement in state or local races.
The most recent surveys of likely voters in Colorado indicate that Tancredo trails Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, the Democrat's nominee, by around 10 points, with Maes a distant third.