Tom Tancredo abandoned the Republican Party months ago over the dismal gubernatorial campaign of Dan Maes and ran instead with the American Constitution Party. But just because the election is over doesn't mean Tancredo is finished taking jabs at his former party. His latest tirade against the GOP appears in the conservative WorldNetDaily, in which he castigates former Governor Bill Owens and other Republicans for joining Governor-elect John Hickenlooper's transition team. "Selling out your party's platform and policy agenda before the first shot is fired is a form of pre-emptive compromise that ought to be called by its right name: surrender."

No wonder Dick Wadhams is considering whether to run a re-election campaign for his job as chairman of the Colorado Republican Party. Wadhams tells The Associated Press he hasn't yet decided but will announce in coming weeks. While Republicans recaptured the state House of Representatives, they lost big in the governor's race and narrowly in the U.S. Senate race. Still, Wadhams had experienced major losses before becoming the local GOP chief, finding successes elsewhere, as 5280 senior editor Luc Hatlestad reported back in November 2008. Among possible replacements for Wadhams are former state Senator Tom Wiens and former congressional candidate Jeff Crank.

Meanwhile, The New York Times writes that Wadhams has expressed "tentative" support for National Republican Committee chairman Michael Steele, who appears to be at risk of losing his post, as various party members express dissatisfaction. In separate incidents over the past year, both Wadhams and Congressman Mike Coffman, a Littleton Republican, have defended Steele amid controversy.