Brandon Shaffer to stay on to fight for the 4th District: We are watching

Last night, Brandon Shaffer's campaign announced that he will, in fact, remain in the race against Cory Gardner for the 4th Congressional District of Colorado. From his release:

I have represented this area in the State Senate for the past seven years. We have built many lasting, strong relationships in Northern Colorado. I’m not running for Congress just to seek political office; I’m running to represent the people. And the people I know best are those in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District.

I do have quite a large ego myself, so I'll just go ahead and assume that the "not running for Congress just to seek political office; I’m running to represent the people" bit was directed at this blog. It makes me feel better about myself.

Now if he wants to regain our support, I suggest Shaffer actually start fighting for the 4th District. His release, included in full at the bottom of this post, includes what are probably Shaffer's strongest words to date, which I find somewhat reassuring:

There are people who have said that the newly re-drawn CD4 is too tough of a race—that party registration favors the Republicans. To them I say: “Just watch me.” The people in Northern Colorado are tired of bickering, tired of politics as usual, and tired of a Congress that sides again and again with wealthy special interests over the rest of us. Republicans, Democrats, and Unaffiliated voters can agree on at least one thing: the current Congress is not getting the job done.

It's a start. I'm glad that someone is staying in the race against Cory Gardner, even if Shaffer's releases do not actually say who he is running against. He seems to be campaigning against an unnamed "Do Nothing Congress." That's one strategy, I guess.

Whether or not I will support Shaffer remains to be seen, as he pretty well angered me over this whole race-switching issue. He will have to start convincing me that he is worth supporting. And Shaffer and company can rest assured that I will be watching.

We will return shortly to Gardner Path's usual focus: Why Cory Gardner is bad for Colorado's 4th District.

Full release:

Shaffer Reaffirms Candidacy in CD4 (2/2/2012)

LONGMONT: Today, Brandon Shaffer put an end to rumors that he would change directions and run in the 6th Congressional District.

“While I appreciate the offers of support from those who asked me to consider running in CD6, I live in CD4, I understand CD4, and I plan to represent CD4 in Congress.

In truth, this was an easy decision. My wife works at the school our children attend. I have represented this area in the State Senate for the past seven years. We have built many lasting, strong relationships in Northern Colorado. I’m not running for Congress just to seek political office; I’m running to represent the people. And the people I know best are those in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District.
There are people who have said that the newly re-drawn CD4 is too tough of a race—that party registration favors the Republicans. To them I say: “Just watch me.” The people in Northern Colorado are tired of bickering, tired of politics as usual, and tired of a Congress that sides again and again with wealthy special interests over the rest of us. Republicans, Democrats, and Unaffiliated voters can agree on at least one thing: the current Congress is not getting the job done. It’s time for change – it’s time to bring some Colorado Solutions to Washington. That’s why I’m running for Congress.”