Tom Tancredo to Drop Out of Presidential Race
Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo plans to drop out of the race during an announcement Thursday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa, GOP sources close to the campaign have told FOX News.
Tancredo, who has aggressively pushed his anti-illegal immigration message throughout the GOP primary race, has not been able to break through in the polls against his better known competitors. He and California Rep. Duncan Hunter typically poll in the single digits behind Texas Rep. Ron Paul in national surveys.
Tancredo would not personally confirm whether he will pull out of the race.
“I will neither confirm nor deny that report,” Tancredo told FOX News. But he added, “I wouldn’t have a press conference if I didn’t have anything to say.”
The five-term Colorado representative already announced in late October that he would not seek reelection to the House of Representatives in 2008. He said at the time that his core issue of illegal immigration has been elevated to national prominence and that he doesn’t need to remain in Congress to promote it.
Tancredo aired a startling ad a month ago tying illegal immigration to terrorism. The ad showed a man in a hooded sweatshirt and backpack walking into a crowded shopping mall, with the sound of an explosion ringing out after the screen goes dark. The ad then showed bloody pictures of victims of terrorist acts in Europe, while the narrator said: “The price we pay for spineless politicians who refuse to defend our borders against those who come to kill.”
Tancredo focused on the issue at the Republican presidential debate a week ago in Iowa, saying immigration without assimilation is a “catastrophe.”
He also refused to participate in a Spanish-language debate on Univision in early December. He told FOX News he did not want to encourage immigrants in America to speak Spanish as their primary language.
FOX News’ Carl Cameron and Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
…seems that the first sign of a Politician with a spine and the liberals and close minded Americans want to “label” them. How unfair. Liberals want a wider perspective but want to put people in their little box so they can in their finite mind handle a perspective different from their own. let’s just get to the issue. 1, There are millions of illegal immigrants. 2, they are ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS and the governement–both sides of the aisle–has done and is doing NOTHING to preserve our freedoms. Our being LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZENS. So, the question becomes do Americans–the LEGAL ones–consider this an issue? Should Congress waste their breath even discussing it or should we just dissolve the Customs and Borders Protection programs, let people speak whatever language they wish and demand they be understood in every local, state, and federal government office, abolish car-home-and -health insurances because soon none us us will afford it with the increasing liability of the uninsured, illegal immigrants; levy a Flat Tax or Consumption tax, push all our jobs overseas, and then stand and sing our National Anthem in the language of OUR choice and demand everyone at ball games sing in our language. Sounds to me like the Tower of Babel. The USA must stand for something. Establish some true National Culture and resume our role as the World Leader on many issues. As we are heading the dollar is weak, our Armed Forces are stretched thin with so-so support from the entire Nation, and we want to debate an issue with ILLEGAL immigrants as the center stage. It’s important. They are ILLEGAL and we are doing nothing as a Nation to change that–the direction is off course and we need to get back to basics. Enforce the laws. Hold your Congreesman accountable for being uninformed–mainly because many would rather WHINE than voice your opinion to Congress. What will America become in the next 5 years? Decide–then stand by your decision! Vote, then complain if YOUR choice doesn’t get elected, but remember that person will be YOUR President to–in four years we can change it again.
Tancredo’s position on immigration is is what many American’s believe, at least the ones who are partiotic. We need to secure our borders. I have no problem with immigrants coming to our country just do it the way my father did. THE RIGHT WAY! The other problem is “YES” the spineless politicians allowing them in, then giving them our money to stay here, free education what crap! Unfortunately Tancredo as one writer said was a one issue candidate, perhaps one of the other republican candidates will smarten up and take a similar position in stopping this major problem and threat to our country.
All of the spineless liberals who have their lips glued to the butts of foreigners will be rejoicing….
Bravo to #26 Steve! That was such a powerful comment that the ignorant trolls stopped yapping entirely, no small feat. Either that or we exceeded their 5 minute attention span.
I too am very concerned about the way the “process” has been reduced to PC 15 second sound bites. No one can learn anything substantive in that environment. The only people that benefits are the MSM elitists whose job it is to tell us what the candidate just said. It has been very frustrating to see a “law and order” issue like illegal immigration continually be slandered with this racist lable.
Tom Tancredo is the ONLY politician that I have heard that will not pee on your leg and tell you that it is raining.
Hmmmmmmm….let’s see, a border fence to keep illegals and terrorists out is racist and facist…but, having a RealID Act that forces every state to have one ID or not to have any of their citizens able to enter federal parks and take domestic flights is ok? Hmmmmm…which one sounds like the old war films where the Nazi officer says “wherz your papers!”. Yeah right. Thank you liberals for taking away our rights because you wanted to have illegals as a voting class.
I am with Huckabee but, Tancredo is right about immigration. I supported 100% when he took the decision to not appear at the Univision’s debate.
“Promoting balkanization of our culture is hatred of America.” What is Amerika? Wake up, it is already balkanized and perhaps that is the first step to rectifying a major problem.
Mr. Tancredo should be complimented for his deision to drop out of the Presidential race. His ability in recognizing that his efforts will not get him
the nominationare commendable. He should be a good Republican and persuade Paul, Hunter Thompson,McCain to also drop out . That has been the problem with the Republcians thay are so divided. 9 candidates, unbelievable no wonder Hillary has been running around smiling. Giuliani / Huckabee team are the only two that has a chance of beating Hillary. The sooner the Republican realize this and get united behind them, the better
the Republican chances are.
Dale O. Boots
Prairie Village, Ks.
Personally, I found a great deal of truth in Mr. Tancredos’ message. Unfortunately, I don’t have 10 billion dollars to donate to his campaign. I hope you woke up some people, Mr. Tancredo. Illegal immigration & terrorism go hand in hand. A good part of the American public sees’ it otherwise, & God help us. Good luck to you sir, & thank you.