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Judith Martinez is a conservative voter and her husband is Hispanic. (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post)

Republican Judith Martinez can barely contain her ire when she talks about gubernatorial candidate Tom Tancredo and his position on illegal immigration.

The Lakewood mother of seven who is married to a Latino said she shares Tancredo's frustration with some issues involving immigration. But she said the problem is the former congressman appeals to voters who want to "dehumanize" illegal immigrants.

"My husband Bryan told me if he didn't oppose everything Democrats stand for, he would be tempted to move over to the Democratic Party, because he often feels that people who look like him are not welcome in the Republican Party," Martinez said.

Former GOP Congressman Tom Tancredo at a political forum. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

Her fears are not lost on key Republicans, who note that in a recent poll twice as many Latino voters had an unfavorable opinion of Tancredo than had a favorable view.

Some of the same people who want to recast the Grand Old Party as the Great Opportunity Party in an effort to attract minorities and young voters believe Tancredo spells disaster in a year that is supposed to be rough for Democrats. For weeks, behind-the-scene movers and shakers in the Republican Party have tried to talk Tancredo into dropping out of the June 24 gubernatorial primary.

They haven't gotten anywhere.

"If you want a traditional candidate and a traditional campaign you will get the traditional outcome: the Republican loses," Tancredo said. "I'm not a traditional candidate. I pride myself on that."

Tancredo wouldn't names names of those who have approached him. Likewise, Republicans involved in lobbying Tancredo wouldn't go on the record.

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Despite GOP fears, Tancredo soldiers on