Thus far only one Republican has officially filed paperwork to run against Democrat state Treasurer Cary Kennedy in 2010. But that hasn't stopped our favorite manic man in the mountains, Muhammad Ali Hasan, from stoking the fires on a potential run.
In June, we spoke to Hasan, former state House candidate, about his potential bid for state treasurer. Hasan told us he was still mulling things over. A few weeks later, he sent out a (dare we say) rambling 5 a.m. e-mail to supporters (PDF), which lays out his campaign strategy — should he, in fact, “actually run.” Here's an excerpt:
“...we have evaluated preliminary numbers regarding the race and we are VERY strong on the Western Slope, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs - honestly, this race would be much easier than House District 56,” Hasan wrote. “In addition, we've put together a really terrific campaign plan, should I actually run - I don't want to give away too much, but in hinting it to you, it involves the following components…”
Hasan proceeds to explain his five-fold plan:
1. Heavy use of GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) data
2. The application of publicly held real time data, being crunched real-time, each second, by a centralized server, with data sent immediately to iPhones and MacBooks for internal use
3. Most campaigns use generic statewide polling - we would use 'personal polling' as we did in HD56
4. The entire campaign would be GREEN - the most high octane, yet smallest carbon-footprint campaign in the entire state
5. The theme/message of the entire campaign would be 'A Relationship with Every Coloradan' ---- and in all seriousness, should I actually run, the goal would be that 70% to 80% of Colorado voters, by October of 2010, will have had some kind of personal interaction with me, should I run - not a flyer, postcard, or a robocall - but real, grassroots, interaction
The e-mail reminds us (twice) that Hasan knocked on 20,000 doors when running for the state House. His ambitious plan to build a monorail to the mountains also plays center stage. “If I actually run and win, you can start calling me Monorail Muhammad, because I will get that sucker built,” he wrote.
Never one to be shy or miss an opportunity to toot his own horn, Hasan also writes, “no one in the entire state knows how to run a campaign better than myself.”
He then wraps up the shoptalk by dropping a few big names. “Lastly, many forget that I've received mentoring from Karl Rove, Newt Gingr[i]ch (sic), George W Bush, and Jack Kemp (may he rest in peace) - their good input has been included on this plan,” he concludes, adding he’ll make up his mind about running by this fall.
As for the other all-but-declared Treasurer candidate J.J. Ament, a financial advisor, the strategy is a bit lower key. Ament has kept a low profile and been working his way around Republican circles to talk about the budget and problems the next state Treasurer will face. He also has a Web site, which as of press time features a logo and nothing else.
Ament told Face The State he’ll be making a decision about running soon. “I’ve spoken to a lot of different Republican groups,” he said. “I’m convinced now more than ever that we need a new governor and a new treasurer.”
Sources tell Face The State the only candidate to have official declared for the race, businessman Walker Stapleton, will post strong fundraising numbers when quarterly reports are due this Wednesday. The Stapleton campaign did not return requests for comment.