In his November 25 column speculating on whether U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO) will again seek re-election in 2008, the Rocky Mountain News' Peter Blake failed to mention that, during his first senatorial campaign in 1996, Allard pledged to serve only two terms if elected and has since declared he's “never wavered” on that pledge.

Weighing Allard's chance of success in a 2008 election, Blake noted that "[i]f Allard chooses to run for a third term, he would face an uphill battle. Voters in Colorado, unlike those in South Carolina, tend to get bored by senators who hang around too long." However, Blake did not point out Allard's long-expressed intention to serve only two six-year terms as senator.

As the News reported in an October 13, 1996, article (subscription only), “Rep. Wayne Allard, who is hoping to become Sen. Wayne Allard, has won the 'Mr. Smith Award' for championing the term-limits movement.” According to the News, “Given annually by the group U.S. Term Limits, the award goes to a legislator who 'exemplifies the concept of a true citizen-legislator,' Allard's office said.”

Another News article from October 9, 2002 -- the year Allard ran for re-election -- noted that “Sen. Wayne Allard said Tuesday that he hasn't wavered in his term-limits pledge and, if re-elected, he will go home to Colorado for good in six years.” The News further reported:

Allard rebutted a report that he had “hedged” on his long-standing pledge to serve a maximum of two terms in the U.S. Senate.

“I'm term-limited,” Allard said Tuesday. “That has always been my position. I've always said I believe in limiting my term. I've stipulated in past campaigns that I believe in term limits, and I've never wavered on it.”

Moreover, Blake himself detailed Allard's position on term limits in a December 2, 1994, News column (subscription only) about the congressional term-limits pledge contained in the so-called "Contract With America." Blake noted that “Rep. Wayne Allard (R) will support a 12-year term limit and 'probably' a six-year limit as well.” The same column quoted Allard as saying, ''I'm a strong proponent of a citizen legislature ... I view term limits as a way of keeping members focused on the fact they're going to have to live with the laws they're passing.''

More recently, a November 9 News article by M.E. Sprengelmeyer on the Democratic sweep of Congress in the November 7 election noted, “The power shift likely will put Republican Sen. Wayne Allard on the minority side just as he is about to decide whether to disregard a term-limits pledge and seek a third term in 2008. Sean Conway, his chief of staff, said this week that Allard is unlikely to make a decision until at least after the current congressional session ends in December.”

From Blake's November 25 Rocky Mountain News column, “Round and round the Senate race goes; where it stops ... ”:

If Sen. Wayne Allard chooses to run for a third term in 2008, he'll start off trailing Democratic Rep. Mark Udall, his presumed challenger, by a margin of 10 to 1 in one important category: Cash on hand.

Udall, who faced an insignificant re-election challenge this fall, had almost $1,260,000 in the bank at last report. Allard, who wasn't running and didn't try to compete for funds with Republicans who were, reported just $120,500.

Whatever Allard decides to do, his party hopes he makes the decision soon -- and sticks to it. Republicans don't want a repeat of the Ben Nighthorse Campbell fiasco. Campbell had given every indication he would run for a third Senate term in 2004 and had raised plenty of money, but waited until March of that year to say “Well, never mind.”

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If Allard chooses to run for a third term, he would face an uphill battle. Voters in Colorado, unlike those in South Carolina, tend to get bored by senators who hang around too long. (Colorado's last three-term senator was Republican Gordon Allott, who lost a bid for a fourth in 1972.)

What's worse, Allard faces two more years laboring in the ever darkening shadow of George Bush. The president cost many a Republican his or her seat this year -- in state as well as federal government. It could be even tougher for the GOP in 2008, unless Bush pulls off a most unlikely miracle in Iraq.