McInnis finally endorses Beauprez days after newspaper column shows ambivalence

DENVER – Prompting the question, " What took you so long?" – today Bob Beauprez's campaign proudly trumpeted the endorsement of former Republican Congressman Scott McInnis.

From the Beauprez press release:

"Today it gives me great pleasure to publicly announce my support for Bob Beauprez to be Colorado's next governor."

But wait a minute! Earlier this week, that's not the tune McInnis was singing. In a conversation with the Publisher of the Montrose Daily Press, the topic of Beauprez's floundering campaign came up.

From the September 5th column:

An admirable outlook on life by Stephen Woody

Publisher's Notebook

Former congressman Scott McInnis was in Montrose Sunday.

I asked him with Rep. Bob Beauprez' candidacy for governor imploding, did he have any regrets not running. McInnis decided not to run for another term representing the Third Congressional District in 2005 after 12 years. Many considered him a lock to succeed Gov. Bill Owens in 2006, if he had wanted it.

"No regrets," said McInnis, smiling, but not all that convincingly. And he didn't deny that the Beauprez campaign was on the road to defeat.

He mentioned how his wife had stuck with him for more than 20 years on the campaign trail and the grind of political office. That he was happy to give it up (political office) for her.

"I'd like to get back in it, just a little," he added with a laugh. McInnis these days is a lawyer with the high-powered legal firm, Hogan and Hartson. McInnis is only 53, young by political standards. He's a native of Glenwood Springs.

http://www.montrosepress.com/articles/2006/09/05/opinion/op2.txt

With friends like these who needs sagging poll numbers, a controversial Lt. Governor running mate or facts and figures pulled out of thin air?