.

NEWS AND VIEWS THAT IMPACT LIMITED CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

"There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with
power to endanger the public liberty." - - - - John Adams

Monday, March 3, 2014

Udall's Senate Seat Comes into Play


Cory Gardner and Mark Udall

The Playing Field Just Widened
  • Udall has been averaging only 43% to 45% in polls.
  • Gardner has about $1 million already in his House coffers that he can transfer to a Senate campaign.


DENVER — Republican Rep. Cory Gardner formally kicked off his Senate campaign on Saturday by tying his challenge to Democratic Senator Mark Udall to the GOP’s efforts to reverse its decade-long slide in this key political bellwether state.

“In 2008, Colorado led the nation in change,” Gardner said, alluding to the election of Udall and the nomination of Barack Obama for president during the Democratic National Convention in Denver. “In 2014, we can change it again.”


Gardner, 39, represents his party’s best shot at breaking a 10-year drought in topline races here. Republicans have not won a single presidential, U.S. Senate or gubernatorial election in Colorado since 2004 because of their trouble appealing to women, young people and Hispanics — factors that have hobbled the GOP nationwide.

In an indication of the Republican enthusiasm around Gardner, he spoke to a crowd of more than 100 supporters who had braved white-out conditions and subzero temperatures.

He was joined on the stage by Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck and state Rep. Amy Stephens, both of whom had been competing for the GOP nomination to challenge Udall until Gardner entered the race last week, leading them to drop out and endorse him. State Sen. Owen J. Hill remains in the race.

Buck narrowly lost to Democratic Sen Michael Bennet in 2010, and many Republicans feared he was too gaffe-prone to beat Udall. “Cory is more disciplined than I am, let’s be honest,” Buck said in an interview. He is now competing for Gardner’s congressional seat.

Gardner slammed Udall for voting to approve Obama’s health-care overhaul, raise taxes and “infringe Second Amendment Rights.” He said he will run on economic development, responsible energy production, a clean environment and education.


Read more: Washington Times.com

.

No comments: