It was a fun ride while it lasted, but the Marc Holtzman Colorado gubernatorial campaign ended yesterday when the state’s Supreme Court refused to hear his argument for why he should appear on the August 8 GOP primary ballot. Shortly after the decision came down Holtzman appeared at a press conference to announce his support of Representative Bob Beauprez (R) in the race.

Holtzman’s appeal to the Supreme Court was his second appeal to the judiciary for reconsideration of Secretary of State Gigi Dennis’ rejection of his petition to be on the GOP ballot. A district court had rejected his argument that 10,500 statewide voter signatures were sufficient for a place on the ballot, rather than 1,500 signatures for each of Colorado’s 7 congressional districts. For months GOP leaders in the state had been urging Holtzman to drop out, especially after he failed to get enough support at the GOP state convention to appear on the ballot.

Beauprez is now unopposed in the primary – a light blow to the campaign of former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter (D), who has enjoyed his unopposed status for months. But Holtzman’s campaign may have already done significant damage by coining the irresistible tag “Both-Ways Bob,” a cut at Beauprez’s inert opposition of a spending initiative in Colorado called Referendum C. A progressive group in Colorado has started using the moniker.