Tancredo doing "remarkably well" in Democratic-heavy Boulder and Broomfield

Recent campaign finance totals clearly indicate that Republican voters in Boulder and Broomfield counties are barely casting an eye toward their party's candidate in the fight to become Colorado's next governor, according to two political experts following the race.

Republican contender Dan Maes has raised an anemic $2,765 from supporters living in the two counties since the Aug. 10 primary, while American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo raked in $21,554 from local backers in that same period.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper exceeded his opponents in raising funds by a more than 3-to-1 margin, taking in $69,353 locally since the primary.

University of Colorado political science chairman Ken Bickers said Tancredo, a former GOP congressman from Colorado's conservative 6th Congressional District who jumped into the gubernatorial race in July, is doing "remarkably well" raising money in such a Democratic-heavy part of the state.

"Tancredo is becoming the other major party candidate," Bickers said. "This is the difference between a first-time candidate and an experienced candidate."

Maes, an Evergreen businessman who has never held political office, had only 32 listed contributors in Boulder and Broomfield counties since the primary and is trailing badly in statewide polls.     – More -