Changes

==2008 Presidential Campaign==

==2008 Presidential Campaign==

Tancredo was a declared candidate for the [[2008 presidential race]]. He heavily campaigned in [[Iowa]] in an attempt to place high in the unofficial [[Iowa Straw Poll]]. In August 2007, fellow Republican presidential primary contestant [[Sam Brownback]], attacked Tancredo for allegedly receiving money from the "founder of a [[Planned Parenthood]] network."<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/07/26/VI2007072601105.html</ref> The Tancredo campaign stated that they do not endorse funders' values and that the allegations do not line up with Tancredo's consistent [[pro-life ]]voting record and statements<ref>Tancredo on Abortion, http://www.ontheissues.org/Sam_Brownback.htm</ref>. Leading conservatives have asked Brownback to retract the claim, although he refuses<ref>http://www.rightwingwatch.org/individuals/john_tanton/index.html</ref>.   

Tancredo entered the Presidential race in April 2007 because, he asserted, no other candidate was willing to take a strong stance on immigration.<ref>Zeleny, Jeff. "The 2008 Campaign: Rep. Tancredo of Colorado Enters GOP Presidential Race." April 30, 2007. New York Times.</ref> His campaign announcement was scrutinized by the media which felt he was running on a single issue platform. In fact, the nature of his campaign as a whole was highly criticized for being drastically underfunded, reliant on conservative talk radio show appearances and affiliated largely with right-wing conservative groups.<ref>Zeleny, Jeff. "The 2008 Campaign: Rep. Tancredo of Colorado Enters GOP Presidential Race." April 30, 2007. New York Times.</ref> His immigration issue was villified in the liberal media at the height of controversy for anti-immigration advocate Lou Dobbs for attributing increasing leprosy rates to illegal immigration.<ref>Leonhardt, David. "Truth, Fiction, and Lou Dobbs." May 30, 2007. New York Times.</ref> The New York Times quickly branded the two as ''"demogogues"''.<ref>Downes, Lawrence. "When Demogogues Play the Leprosy Card, Watch out." June 17, 2007. New York Times.</ref>

 

He heavily campaigned in [[Iowa]] in an attempt to place high in the unofficial [[Iowa Straw Poll]]. In August 2007, fellow Republican presidential primary contestant [[Sam Brownback]], attacked Tancredo for allegedly receiving money from the "founder of a [[Planned Parenthood]] network."<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/07/26/VI2007072601105.html</ref> The Tancredo campaign stated that they do not endorse funders' values and that the allegations do not line up with Tancredo's consistent [[pro-life ]]voting record and statements<ref>Tancredo on Abortion, http://www.ontheissues.org/Sam_Brownback.htm</ref>. Leading conservatives have asked Brownback to retract the claim, although he refuses<ref>http://www.rightwingwatch.org/individuals/john_tanton/index.html</ref>.   

Tancredo has attacked other fellow Republican presidential primary candidates, including [[Mitt Romney]], Sam Brownback, [[Fred Thompson]] and [[Mike Huckabee]]. Former governor Mike Huckabee stated that Tancredo's ad claiming Huckabee held a pro-amnesty position was "blatantly dishonest", and that Tancredo's campaign either did sloppy research or deliberately mischaracterized his position<ref>http://www.rightwingwatch.org/individuals/john_tanton/index.html</ref>.

Tancredo has attacked other fellow Republican presidential primary candidates, including [[Mitt Romney]], Sam Brownback, [[Fred Thompson]] and [[Mike Huckabee]]. Former governor Mike Huckabee stated that Tancredo's ad claiming Huckabee held a pro-amnesty position was "blatantly dishonest", and that Tancredo's campaign either did sloppy research or deliberately mischaracterized his position<ref>http://www.rightwingwatch.org/individuals/john_tanton/index.html</ref>.