GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — Health care and the partial government shutdown underscored the first debate Saturday between U.S. Democratic Sen. Mark Udall and Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, who are deadlocked in a pivotal Colorado contest that could determine control of the Senate.
Gardner repeatedly tied Udall to the policies of President Barack Obama, frequently naming Udall and Obama in the same sentence, as well as referring to Udall’s support for the nation’s new health care law and his vote for the 2008 stimulus plan.
“Barack Obama and Mark Udall have put tremendous pressure on this country,” Gardner said.
Udall countered by criticizing Gardner for siding with Republicans during the partial government shutdown in the aftermath of devastating floods in Colorado last year.
“You hurt the people of Colorado. You hurt the recovery,” Udall said.
“I can’t believe you’re politicizing a tragedy,” Gardner snapped back.
The high-stakes race is Udall’s first re-election bid after taking office in 2008 during a banner year for Democrats. Gardner has long been considered a rising star in the GOP, and his entry into the race this year catapulted the contest into one of most competitive in the nation.
Most polls show Gardner tied with Udall.
Both parties have spent millions on the race in this swing state, and when the contest is decided it could be the most expensive Senate race in Colorado history.
The candidates debated Saturday evening in Grand Junction at an event hosted by Club 20, an influential western Colorado advocacy group.
Republicans have made Obama’s low approval ratings and the country’s health-care overhaul a big issue in the campaign.
“You promised the American people that if you liked your health-care plan, you can keep your health-care plan,” Gardner asked Udall. “When did you know that that promise was not going to be kept?”
Udall responded by blaming insurance companies for “not keeping faith with the intent of the law.”
Democrats, meanwhile, are seeking to paint Gardner as being against reproductive rights.
“How can women and families trust you? Why are you getting between women and their doctors?” Udall asked Gardner.
Gardner responded by saying he supports expanding access to over-the-counter birth control for women.
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Gardner is anti-women and has been for years sponsoring Personhood bills on a continuing basis and is OWNED by the Kock Bros and ALEC…He is a despicable liar and the darling of the rabid Tbaggers who can not win in State except for the rual voters!
A dog fight to the end but Udall should pull this out…Obma is not disliked as much as the vile gop bags would like to believe!
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Definite AP article – ignoring Udall, loving Gardner, and ignoring what an empty suit he is.
It’s all down to GOTV! Whatever structure Obama used to GOTV needs to be applied to the midterms.
“…Barack Obama and Mark Udall have put tremendous pressure on this country…”
So Congressional Republicans took a long vacation. It’s that important to them.
I live in western Colorado(Rifle) and I listen to people bash Obama every day.They bash the ACA on their way to the doc visit and put signs in their shops blaming Obama for virtually everything.I knew one shop owner who solicited donations Because our president took away his house in 2008(true story).I swear these people will blame Obama for the chickenpox they got in 1973 and rail against the welfare state on their way to pick up their foodstamps.I am amazed how many locals here vote against their own best interests and NEVER give our President any credit for anything.Please vote and vote Democrat