Secretary of State Mike Coffman (R) is preparing to run for the 6th district seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Tancredo (R), who is retiring and waging a long-shot bid for president.

Coffman is seen as a solid candidate and an early frontrunner for the safe Republican seat, although some GOP activists in the Centennial State might prefer he not run because Gov. Bill Ritter (D) will presumably appoint a Democrat to replace him as secretary of state should he advance to Congress in 2008, midway through his current term.

Coffman adviser Sean Tonner, a GOP political consultant based in Colorado, said Coffman is assembling a campaign team and will likely announce his candidacy in the next few weeks. The Republican began laying the foundation for a Congressional run over the summer when talk of Tancredo’s potential retirement began to heat up.

Also considered as strong potential candidates for Tancredo’s seat are Republican state Sens. Ted Harvey and Tom Wiens, and small-businessman Wil Armstrong (R), the son of former Sen. Bill Armstrong (R).

— David M. Drucker