Schaffer To Run For Senate

**Update
--Ben believes Schaffer is going forward for two reasons:

1) He has cleared the primary field of any potential opponents and received assurances of support from most or all of the Republican players.
2) Internal polling gives him a respectable chance to defeat Udall next November.

From The Hill:

Former Rep. Bob Schaffer (R-Colo.) said Saturday at a Lincoln Day Dinner that he would run for U.S. Senate in 2008, according to local sources.

Speaking at a small dinner in Teller County, Schaffer told a crowd of about 100 that he had decided to run, according to two local party operatives who were there.

“He announced that we were the first to know that he is a candidate,” said County Commissioner and former county Republican Party Chairman Bob Campbell. Campbell added that Schaffer said a formal announcement and release would be coming at a later date.

Current Teller County Republican Party Chairman Mark Sievers also confirmed Schaffer’s announcement: “He did say that. He was unequivocal.”
. . .
Schaffer did not return a call seeking comment by press time.

We heard unconfirmed reports earlier, but this report seems credible. Not sure it means much, but it is curious that Schaffer would announce in such a hush-hush manner at a local Lincoln Day Dinner instead of going straight to the media.

Political Pale Horse said "Team Schaffer" was forming for a run, but there weren't many specifics just yet.