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DENVER - A day after news leaked that state Sen. Josh Penry was dropping out of the race to be Colorado's next governor, Penry made it official in media interviews and a lengthy, pointed statement to his supporters Tuesday.
That followed a morning meeting with former U.S. Rep Scott McInnis, who had been Penry's main opponent on the Republican side and who now appears to be well-positioned -- barring a surprise entrance into the race by, say, Tom Tancredo, who is suddenly "praying over" his political future, according to a recent email -- to be the party's candidate to take on Democrat Gov. Bill Ritter next fall.
But Penry stopped short of endorsing McInnis, his former boss. To the contrary, he asserted, rather brashly, that he still feels like he's the better candidate and that, with continued hard work and great expense, he could win.
"I think I'm the right guy for the job, and I've never walked away from a fight in my life," said Penry, who summed up his decision with an old cliche: "discretion is the better part of valor. In this case, it is true -- disappointing, but true."
Political pundits have speculated that Penry, already behind McInnis on the fundraising front, was bullied out of the race by 527 groups, threatening to throw a lot of money and muscle behind McInnis in an effort to tarnish and take down Penry, labeled by an oft-adoring media throng as the bright new face of Colorado's GOP.
In his email to supporters, Penry painted the situation differently.
"I'm not the only candidate who can beat Bill Ritter, and the fact is that the road to the nomination is long and expensive - a diversion of resources at a time when the fight should be focused on defeating Bill Ritter and those who have supported his agenda," Penry said. "And other facts are just as apparent: Scott McInnis' tenure in Congress gave him a built-in advantage coming into this race. And rather than spending the next several months and millions fighting to close that gap, we decided to step back and live to fight another day."
McInnis chose not to comment Tuesday.
Penry said he'll announce his endorsement, of either McInnis, Evergreen businessman Dan Maes, or perhaps a third Republican latecomer to the race, in the near future -- but he was clear he's not ready to get behind his former boss after their morning meeting Tuesday.
"No deals, no job offers, no promises, no endorsements," Penry said in describing the meeting. "The conversation was meaningful. We don't agree on everything, but he's ready for the job. But before I make any decision to endorse, I want to know more about the agenda that he's going to bring to the office."
As for Penry's own plans, his words make it clear that he plans to run for high office again, even leaving room for him to do it next year, in a possible challenge to U.S. Rep. John Salazar, the incumbent Democrat who represents Penry's third congressional district on the Western Slope. Currently, Republican state Rep. Scott Tipton is planning to challenge Salazar.
That followed a morning meeting with former U.S. Rep Scott McInnis, who had been Penry's main opponent on the Republican side and who now appears to be well-positioned -- barring a surprise entrance into the race by, say, Tom Tancredo, who is suddenly "praying over" his political future, according to a recent email -- to be the party's candidate to take on Democrat Gov. Bill Ritter next fall.
But Penry stopped short of endorsing McInnis, his former boss. To the contrary, he asserted, rather brashly, that he still feels like he's the better candidate and that, with continued hard work and great expense, he could win.
"I think I'm the right guy for the job, and I've never walked away from a fight in my life," said Penry, who summed up his decision with an old cliche: "discretion is the better part of valor. In this case, it is true -- disappointing, but true."
Political pundits have speculated that Penry, already behind McInnis on the fundraising front, was bullied out of the race by 527 groups, threatening to throw a lot of money and muscle behind McInnis in an effort to tarnish and take down Penry, labeled by an oft-adoring media throng as the bright new face of Colorado's GOP.
In his email to supporters, Penry painted the situation differently.
"I'm not the only candidate who can beat Bill Ritter, and the fact is that the road to the nomination is long and expensive - a diversion of resources at a time when the fight should be focused on defeating Bill Ritter and those who have supported his agenda," Penry said. "And other facts are just as apparent: Scott McInnis' tenure in Congress gave him a built-in advantage coming into this race. And rather than spending the next several months and millions fighting to close that gap, we decided to step back and live to fight another day."
McInnis chose not to comment Tuesday.
Penry said he'll announce his endorsement, of either McInnis, Evergreen businessman Dan Maes, or perhaps a third Republican latecomer to the race, in the near future -- but he was clear he's not ready to get behind his former boss after their morning meeting Tuesday.
"No deals, no job offers, no promises, no endorsements," Penry said in describing the meeting. "The conversation was meaningful. We don't agree on everything, but he's ready for the job. But before I make any decision to endorse, I want to know more about the agenda that he's going to bring to the office."
As for Penry's own plans, his words make it clear that he plans to run for high office again, even leaving room for him to do it next year, in a possible challenge to U.S. Rep. John Salazar, the incumbent Democrat who represents Penry's third congressional district on the Western Slope. Currently, Republican state Rep. Scott Tipton is planning to challenge Salazar.
