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Relative unknown Paul Noel Fiorino has no previous experience as an elected official. He has $1,000 to run a statewide campaign. He lacks the backing of any major political party.

Still, despite these long odds, he's optimistic. Ask him whether he has a chance to become Colorado's next governor and he'll give you a straight-from-the hip answer he firmly believes in.

"You know, I really do believe I have a legitimate shot," said Fiorino, who claims to be the first unaffiliated candidate in Colorado history to run for governor. "There is a huge amount of people (undecided) and I run into them every day. It just baffles me these are the only two candidates being considered."

Those two candidates are frontrunner Bill Ritter, D-Denver, a former district attorney, and his opponent, Congressman Bob Beauprez, R-Arvada.

But, while Ritter and Beauprez have advantages such as name recognition, campaign staffs and, most importantly, the campaign war chests in their favor, Fiorino said their candidacies are marred by special interests.

Fiorino, 51, of Evergreen, said he's reaching out to the man on the street, the middle class and the disillusioned voter who no longer identifies with a two-party system. The line between Democrat and Republican is becoming more and more blurred, he said.

"People don't agree with either party and want the freedom to choose their own candidate," he said. "I'm for the people of Colorado, for them having a voice in government and not just someone who is representing a party."

Fiorino, a dancer, choreographer and singer/songwriter, lists 35 years of experience with small businesses and nonprofit organizations on his resume.

"If (people) want to talk politics, I can do that," he said. "If they want me to sing them a song, or dance a dance, I can do that, too."

He petitioned his way onto the ballot by acquiring more than 1,800 signatures, well ahead of the 1,000 required by the Secretary of State.

He began campaigning for the office in January. Since then, he's employed a friendly, door-to-door campaign strategy with limited media exposure. Often, he's taken that message to voters while walking through neighborhoods, or touring towns by bicycle.

"I feel I'm trying to make up for lost ground," he said.

The campaign trail for the gubernatorial candidate will lead to Craig and Steamboat Springs next week. Fiorino will visit the area on Tuesday, but has no set agenda.

"I'm kind of working each town," he said about scheduled stops in Eagle, Oak Creek, Steamboat Springs, Craig and Meeker. "I'm not going to talk to any groups. ... People at the grocery store, post office, or someone on the street, those are the people I want to reach.

"It's time for someone to reach into the drawer that would never be reached otherwise."

In the performing arts business, Fiorino said he specializes in "bringing talent together" for a product aimed at "giving back to the public." He would use a similar philosophy as governor, he said.

He also favors innovation in the areas of environment, technology, renewable energies and policymaking, and seeks to implement reform in the Legislature and the Department of Corrections.

Although acknowledging that overtaking Ritter and Beauprez this November is a daunting task, Fiorino said it's far from impossible. And, he's not comfortable with just being a third-party spoiler, either.

"I can't let the people down who want me to be in this race," he said.

"I'm going against the whole perception thing. I think I am (overcoming that). Overall, I feel like, yes, I'm very much making a strong impression and am coming out from the bottom of the polls."