U.S. Senate

•Ken Buck joined the Cari and Rob Show to respond to the resurfacing “rape case” issue that first came up in 2006, and is now the centerpiece of resurgent partisan attacks.

•WhoSaidYouSaid.com has dubbed Ken Buck’s closing lines in his debates as his “Scott Brown moment”:

“We need to change the way things are going on in Washington, D.C.,” Buck said on Monday night in his debate with appointed U.S. Sen. MIchael Bennet, D-Colo. “We protested when the government ran up trillions of dollars of debt. We sent e-mails when they were about to pass the health care bill. We called and told them to get off the backs of small business so that small business could create jobs. We pleaded with them to please secure our borders so that we could be safe. And you know what? They heard us. But folks, they ignored us. And on November second, they will ignore us no more.”

•Attacks by Democrats on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and third party support for Ken Buck in particular, even had the mainstream media lifting an eyebrow of incredulity:

“This part about foreign money,” Schieffer asked Axelrod on the air. “That appears to be peanuts, Mr. Axelrod. I mean, do you have any evidence that it’s anything other than peanuts?”

•Bad news for Bennet–Medicare costs will increase for some seniors due to the health care reform bill, according to Politico.

•The Coalition for Colorado Jobs urges Bennet to put his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act in writing:

A coalition of Colorado business groups today urged Senator Michael Bennet to put his newly stated opposition to the Employee ‘Forced’ Choice Act (EFCA) in writing and join 20 other Colorado candidates for Federal office who have formally stated their position on the job-killing legislation.
In a letter to Senator Bennet released this morning, the groups – including Hispanic Contractors of Colorado, Colorado Contractors’ Association, Aurora Economic Development Corporation, Colorado Retail Council, the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) – Colorado and the Coalition for Colorado Jobs (CCJ) – said that putting his statement of opposition in writing will allow the groups to give the Senator the credit he deserves.
The group provided a copy of the Coalition for Colorado Jobs’ questionnaire on EFCA that has been completed by 20 Federal candidates.
“Clearly, this is one of the most important issues facing not only Colorado employers but America as a whole and that is why we are heartened by your public opposition,” the group wrote. “To ensure that we can properly inform our members and give you the credit you deserve for your stance, we urge you to sign the attached questionnaire from the Coalition for Colorado Jobs.”

•Bennet waited for over a year–and for the bill to have floundered–before pronouncing his position. Others accuse Bennet of mincing words.

House

CO-7

•Ryan Frazier’s campaign quickly leapt on remarks made by President Barack Obama about the presence of “shovel-ready projects”:

Ryan Frazier, candidate for the 7th Congressional District, today asked incumbent Democrat Rep. Ed Perlmutter if he agrees with President Obama’s admission that the trillion dollar stimulus bill was a failure.
“Obama is finally admitting to what most Americans already know – the failed stimulus was the wrong policy at the wrong time,” Frazier said. “Will Ed stand by the president and admit there’s no such thing as shovel-ready projects? Or will he defend his vote for the failed stimulus when only 5% went to transportation funding?”
In a New York Times article, Obama admits “that he let himself look too much like “the same old tax-and-spend Democrat,” realized too late that “there’s no such thing as shovel-ready projects” and perhaps should have “let the Republicans insist on the tax cuts” in the stimulus.”
“Americans are sick and tired of being misled by this Administration and its rubberstamp Congress,” Frazier concluded. “Broad based tax relief, not bloated government and reckless spending, is the way to get our economy back on track.”

Governor

•The Colorado Springs Gazette endorses John Hickenlooper:

Republican Dan Maes and Tom Tancredo, the American Constitution Party candidate, also met for 90 minutes each with the board. Maes clearly lacked the depth and experience needed for the job, and he entertained an almost delusional belief that he might win. He’s known as a great salesman, but Maes came nowhere near selling the board on the merits of electing him. Tancredo was affable and had a firm grasp of the issues, but he fell short of leaving an impression the state would grow, prosper and become more free under his leadership. Furthermore, the board felt certain Tancredo would spend exorbitant time and energy imposing an Arizona-style immigration law that could only harm the economy.
The John Hickenlooper interrogated by The Gazette was not the tax-and-spend, government-centric politician his opponents would like the public to think he is. Board members believed the Hickenlooper who jumped through hoops, altering his schedule in order to pitch The Gazette on his plan to shrink state government. Board members will not forget the meeting and the impressive promises to help the private sector thrive throughout Colorado. If Hickenlooper governs as he pledged to The Gazette, this is an endorsement the board will proudly defend for years to come.

•Even though Tancredo bailed from the GOP to run for governor, the GOP hasn’t bailed on Tancredo.