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Recent national attention focused on Colorado’s Republican US Senate candidate Joe O’Dea prompts a few key questions about his strategy and ultimate intent.

Last week, O’Dea told a national audience that he doesn’t support Donald Trump. Florida’s Ron DeSantis has endorsed O’Dea. Trump has repudiated O’Dea as a “Republican In Name Only” (RINO).

Is this a brilliant O’Dea strategy to capture a growing anti-Trump base and turn O’Dea’s current polling frown upside down right before the election? Is O’Dea actually a Trump supporter who called him about his “ruse” so that he could get elected and then pivot to become a Trump “ally?” (This would be hogwashing on a massive scale, but certainly not beyond the bounds of political chicanery and deception.) And would the best way for Democrats to counter this stance be to do a commercial contrasting two O’Deas (one showing his historical ties to Trump positions and policies, another showing his latest stance)? The obvious intent here would be to position O’Dea as two-faced and not to be trusted.

Here’s the real kicker: If O’Dea’s strategy succeeds, he well could be the swing vote to turn the US Senate Republican. Then, much as Joe Manchin has been a powerful, pivotal force the last two years, newly elected Joe O’Dea could become hugely influential to Republican presidential election aspirations—either going all-in for DeSantis or switching allegiance back to Trump to gain maximum leverage with either camp.

A recent Cnn.com report frames the discussion about O’Dea and sheds light on DeSantis’ standing: “Here’s how you know Donald Trump is afraid of Ron DeSantis…The 2022 campaign isn’t even over yet, but Donald Trump is already starting a 2024 fight with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. It began with DeSantis’ decision to record an automated phone call in support of Joe O’Dea, the Republican nominee for US Senate in Colorado…‘A BIG MISTAKE,’ Trump called it on his Truth Social site…O’Dea and Trump clashed last week after O’Dea told CNN’s Dana Bash that he did not think Trump should run for the White House again in 2024 and that if the former President did enter the race that he would ‘actively’ campaign against him…‘MAGA doesn’t vote for stupid people with big mouths,’ wrote Trump.”

The report continues, “Trump’s attempt to diminish DeSantis has not succeeded as much as the former President would like. While Trump generally leads in polling of the potential 2024 Republican primary field, DeSantis regularly takes double-digit support…in a new national poll from ABC News and Ipsos, more than 4 in 10 (44%) of Republicans said they want DeSantis to have a ‘great deal’ of influence on the future of the Republican Party. Just 1 in 3 (34%) said the same of Trump. All of his boasting about how easily he would beat DeSantis – and his chest-thumping about the O’Dea endorsement – speaks to an underlying insecurity about the established (and growing) strength of the Florida governor.”

Given all this, here’s the 800-pound gorilla question for Colorado voters to consider in this potentially pivotal race: O’Dea can you see…who and what Joe O’Dea really supports?

Do your own research of O’Dea’s past record, which likely will provide much insight into future positions. Investigate and vet multiple sources covering political reporting from one end of the political spectrum to the other to identify verifiable truths. Then, make an informed decision about what the facts say—and don’t be swayed by a bunch of hogwashing.

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