Colo. GOP gubernatorial hopeful rebuffs call _ again _ for him to bow out of race

Colo. GOP gubernatorial hopeful not budging

DENVER — Republican Dan Maes and third-party candidate Tom Tancredo are both staying in the governor’s race after meeting to discuss their intentions.

Maes’ spokesman Nate Strauch says the two met Tuesday at Tancredo’s request. Tancredo switched his affiliation from GOP to American Constitution Party after saying that the Republicans in the race couldn’t defeat Democrat John Hickenlooper.

Tancredo and some GOP leaders have called on Maes to bow out after his statements about working undercover as a police officer in Kansas were questioned. Maes has also been criticized for saying he’d fire 2,000 state workers and suggesting a Denver bike-sharing program is part of a United Nations conspiracy to exert control.

Tancredo, a former congressman, has been criticized for possibly splitting the GOP vote.