Armstrong draws big-name GOP support

Wil Armstrong.

Secretary of State Mike Coffman can take heart in being the clear front-runner in the Republican primary race to succeed Colo. Rep. Tom Tancredo, but it's worth noting that rival Wil Armstrong seems to be picking up steam. A steady stream of high-profile Republicans has come out in favor of Armstrong in the last week as he campaigns for the Sixth Congressional District seat.

Armstrong, a former mortgage banker and small businessman from Greenwood Village who is the son of former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong, is positioning himself as a fiscal conservative whose experiences in the private sector will bring fiscal discipline to Washington, D.C.

Last week, former Gov. Bill Owens shot a video supporting the political novice's candidacy, saying, "I think we need more people with a business background in the U.S. House of Representatives. With all of the issues involving taxes and regulations, it would be great to have more people with background such as Wil's in the United States House of Representatives."

Rep. Marilyn Musgrave followed him.

Then it was former Rep. Scott McInnis' turn.

And finally, the Armstrong campaign today announced a slew of new endorsements, highlighted by four Centennial Republicans: Sen. Nancy Spence, Reps. Spencer Swalm and David Balmer, and former State Senate President John Andrews.

Coffman, whose campaign is built largely around his military service, last week announced endorsements from eight retired military generals, but the question remains: Is there a Republican in a current leadership position who is endorsing him? Shouldn't there be?

After all, Coffman is one of just three GOPers (Sen. Wayne Allard and Attorney John Suthers are the others) to hold statewide elected office and has been an able party soldier in various elected offices for more than 15 years .

One explanation for the trend could be the fact that the party might lose the Secretary of State's office to a Democrat appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter should Coffman win. That prospect led to a testy exchange between Coffman and state GOP chair Dick Wadhams earlier this year.

But Coffman is still the man to beat, and has ample support in the 6th CD. In fact, based on Coffman's campaign polling, the biggest boosters (unwitting?) of his campaign may just be Sens. Ted Harvey and Steve Ward, who are pulling enough support to keep Armstrong a distant second.