ABC News: Gov. Palin Endorses Tom Tancredo

*
ABC News’ Huma Khan reports that Sarah Palin has endorsed Tom Tancredo, a former GOP congressman-turned now running on the American Constitution Party ticket:

Palin taped a recorded message for Tancredo, though she didn’t endorse him on Facebook and Twitter, as she normally does.

“Tom is the right man for the job and he’ll fight for lower taxes,” Palin said. “He’ll stop growing government and start growing the economy, and we know he’ll continue to work to end illegal immigration.”

Listen to Gov. Palin's recording here.

Andrew Malcolm comments:

It's actually not a bad political move for Tancredo and Palin. With no GOP damage since Maes is a non-factor, she solidifies her anti-establishment, go-with-the-common-sense-conservative-guy-no-matter-what stance. Palin's pal and Tancredo's former House colleague Michele Bachmann made the same move earlier. If Tancredo wins, it looks like he'd owe her, if Palin were to run for something else someday soon.

And since Tancredo wasn't getting any significant Democratic support anyway, the arrival of Palin's endorsement costs him nothing and might help among Colorado's conservatives, where she is a favorite and he must score very big to have a chance in this three-way tilt.

- JP

KS-Sen: Tancredo switches support from Moran to Tiahrt

*
Explaining that he had been "deceived," former Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo today took the unusual step of formally withdrawing his endorsement of U.S. Senate candidate Jerry Moran and giving it to Todd Tiahrt, Moran's opponent in the Kansas Republican primary, according to a report at the Wichita Eagle's political blog:

Tancredo said Moran had deceived him.

Tancedo wrote this (as released by the Tiahrt camp):

Dear Kansan,

In February of this year I endorsed Congressman Jerry Moran for the United States Senate.

I came to this difficult conclusion after receiving untrue and incomplete information from the Moran for Senate campaign and Congressman Moran himself.

After independent research, I have learned disturbing information about Congressman Moran’s support of amnesty and benefits for illegal immigrants.

He voted against my amendment to defund sanctuary cities, essentially granting amnesty to all illegal immigrants in each of those cities.

Congressman Moran also voted with Nancy Pelosi to remove citizenship verification for illegal immigrants to receive welfare benefits.

Then he raised your taxes to pay for those health care benefits.

Congressman Moran even opposed money to secure our borders and build the fence.

In addition to hiding his own record, Congressman Moran distorted and maligned Congressman Todd Tiahrt’s record on illegal immigration. Congressman Tiahrt has been innovative in his approach to sealing the borders, written legislation to close loopholes so you and I don’t pay for benefits to illegal immigrants, and led the charge to keep tough immigration laws at the forefront of the debate in Congress when so many others are letting President Obama take the lead.

Because I care about the burden illegal immigration places on this country, I am withdrawing my endorsement of Congressman Moran and proudly endorsing Congressman Todd Tiahrt.

If you care about the damage illegal immigration does to our society, I hope you can join me in supporting and voting for Congressman Todd Tiahrt.

- Congressman Tom Tancredo

By switching his support from Moran to Tiahrt, Tancredo joins Sarah Palin in backing Tiahrt. The 2008 vice presidential candidate gave the 4th District Congressman her endorsement June 24.

- JP