Dan Maes is in it to win – so he said today on Facebook.  The man who was nominated to carry the mantle to the Colorado governor’s mansion has seen his fortunes nosedive in the past weeks as scandal after scandal were exposed.  Despite the damage and the fact he has no chance to win, Maes’s vanity won the day.

I have said privately this week that Maes would stay in the race.  Why would he get out? 

He has absolutely nothing to lose – literally.  He was a failure as a police officer, has been a failure in business and has run a failure of a campaign.  Now he has failed the people of Colorado. 

You have to have something to lose to make you think twice and he has nothing.  His decision to stay in reflects that. 

Tom Tancredo immediately issued a press release imploring Republicans to abandon Maes and asking them to ignore his candidacy.  I don’t know that I will support Tancredo but his statement is dead on. 

Dan Maes’s statement on Facebook:

After speaking with, and hearing from, numerous Coloradans – from former Senators to family farmers – I’ve determined that I cannot turn my back on the 200,000 voters who nominated me to run for this office. This campaign found success through hard work, palm-pressing, and shoe leather, and that’s how I plan to engage voters over the next two months and claim victory on November 2nd.

Statement from Tom Tancredo:

“Today the Secretary of State will certify the November ballot with Dan Maes as the Republican candidate for Governor.  Five weeks ago I told Republicans that Mr. Maes was both professionally and personally unqualified to be their candidate.  I gave them several opportunities to get him out, even offering them my candidacy as an inducement.

The time for inter-party squabbling is over.  Now we must all move forward—for the sake of our state.  Beginning today I will focus all my time and energy on winning this election.

Since Dan Maes is no longer a viable opponent today, I am challenging Mayor Hickenlooper to six one-on-one debates.  My staff will gladly work with his as to the time, place, and format.  I look forward to a healthy and vigorous campaign with my Democrat opponent that is in the interest of the voters of Colorado.”

Update, 9/4/10, 2:00am – Audio of Dan Maes on Caplis & Silverman after his announcement.  Says he was put undercover by Kansas Bureau  of Investigations and a reporter will be writing a story that will reveal that he is telling the truth.  Tells everyone to ignore the past and that it is “time to move on.”  Won’t explain why tax return isn’t available.  H/T Complete Colorado

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