Tancredo Leaves Race, Endorses Romney
Tancredo exits the stage. (AP).
By Michael D. Shear
DES MOINES -- Saying he did not want to be a spoiler that could help nominate a candidate who would not protect the country's border, Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo quit the presidential race today and endorsed former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
At a news conference, Tancredo said he did not agree with Romney on all issues, but believes that the governor has a "solid record" on immigration issues and can "go the distance."
Tancredo acknowledged that his campaign for the presidency had always been a long shot, saying that "we've always known the odds were enormous."
But he bragged of forcing all of the candidates to become more aggressive on the issue of immigration and of forcing the issue "to the forefront of the national debate."
In the most recent Washington Post/ABC poll from Iowa, where immigration is the top issue among GOP voters - only 2 percent planned to support Tancredo, but 11 percent called him best on immigration. Data also show Romney has a slight advantage among immigration voters, but faces a large deficit among those focused on social issues.
Tancredo had run a campaign almost totally focused on the need to close the country's borders and deport the 11 million immigrants who are here illegally. His critics called him xenophobic. But he never backed down on the issue that has animated his entire public career.
For more on Tancredo's announcement, see The Fix.
Posted at 3:39 PM ET on Dec 20, 2007
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Comments
Posted by: infinity555 | December 22, 2007 11:20 AM | Report abuse
Now Tom can get back to his rock group "Tom Tancredo & The Presbyterians" and their "Up With Calvinism!" tour. Then it's back to Colorado to face his town's code enforcement board over nuisance charges of not having his landscaping done or his roof fixed for the last several years. Maybe he should hire the crew Romney just fired?
Posted by: sawargos | December 20, 2007 8:07 PM | Report abuse
Now Tom can get back to his rock group "Tom Tancredo & The Presbyterians" and their "Up With Calvinism!" tour. Then it's back to Colorado to face his town's code enforcement board over nuisance charges of not having his landscaping done or his roof fixed for the last several years. Maybe he should hire the crew Romney just fired?
Posted by: sawargos | December 20, 2007 8:07 PM | Report abuse
Now Tom can get back to his rock group "Tom Tancredo & The Presbyterians" and their "Up With Calvinism!" tour. Then it's back to Colorado to face his town's code enforcement board over nuisance charges of not having his landscaping done or his roof fixed for the last several years. Maybe he should hire the crew Romney just fired?
Posted by: sawargos | December 20, 2007 8:07 PM | Report abuse
rlaitres-I'm sure Colorado has greatly benefited from your snide habitation and assertion of "what America is all about". Not.America is a nation like any other, and the esteemed Congrassman's assertion that we as a people have a right to preserve our identity in the face of massive illegal immigration has nothing to do with biggotry. Anyone assumes that because one doesn't want ones country balkanized that you hate the others-no we love them, especially when they stay in their own countries and create their own happiness instead of flood our labor market and insisting our society be transformed in their image.
the Jewish people have been able to survive for millennia and preserve their culture because they had pride in their identity and values.We Americans need to take note of this remarkable persistence of a people and stand for who we are as well. Our openness and tolerance should not be used an instrament to dissolve us, and it most certainly is.
Latin Americans have a score of countries in this hemisphere, they don't need ours they need to improve theirs. Handing them America on a silver platter as we have been is like handing the car keys to a teenager who has just totaled all the cars in the family except one. Where will WE have to go when they turn the United States into another Brazil or Mexico?
When our forefathers came and built this nation, it came to be considered the worlds, "last best hope". Turn all our cities into Mexico city and this nations posterity will be doomed.
Posted by: moratoriumusa | December 20, 2007 5:48 PM | Report abuse
Dear Mr Tancredo,
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all you've done to uphold the laws and sovereignty of the United States. It must have been difficult to listen to the lies and insults hurled at you from people who have no respect for our country. Please know that many millions of us appreciate your bringing illegal immigration into the mainstream of political discussion. We are grateful.
Thank You !!!
Posted by: jims | December 20, 2007 5:26 PM | Report abuse
Another Colorado "embarassment" leaves the stage. An ultra-nationialist racial bigot gone, finally!! And I live in Colorado. Tancredo is a "nouveau patriote" who knows absolutely nothing about his own country. Like the "nouveau riche" who don't know how to use their money, as they never learned how, the "nouveau patiote" never learned what the country is all about. As far as those who support his views on immigration, drop the emotion and start using your reasoning powers, for those who still can.
Posted by: rlaitres | December 20, 2007 4:40 PM | Report abuse
"But he bragged of forcing all of the candidates to become more aggressive on the issue of immigration and of forcing the issue "to the forefront of the national debate.""
Sadly, my perception agrees with Mr Tancredo's. Unfortunately, he seems to have a keen understanding of the depth of racism and hatred motivating the voting patterns of the republican base. A shame, really.
Posted by: zukermand | December 20, 2007 4:13 PM | Report abuse
BUT, is Tancredo willing to be the first to jump into Mitt's Cabinet-To help organize the crackdown on the Employers violating our Labor Laws?
Inquiring little minds want to know!
Go TEAM!
Posted by: rat-the | December 20, 2007 3:54 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
If a true patriot like Rep. Tancredo endorsed Mitt Romney, then that's good enough for ME! I'm not voting for either Democrats or Republicans who play along with the globalist, open-border, unfair free-market agenda? All the ultra-liberals have left and the anti-American organisations in our midst, is to use the race card. Not all the Hispanic people want unfettered illegal immigration. Those who come here legally want part of the American dream, just like any new member to join American society?
This has nothing to do with Hispanics as a race, but everything to do with the unsubmountable difference with legal and illegal! America welcomes every new potential citizen, but we do not need people who do not follow "THE RULE OF LAW." No exceptions!