DENVER – U.S. Senate candidate Cory Gardner stopped in Denver on Wednesday to receive an endorsement from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The announcement for the Republican congressman from Yuma offered an opportunity for Gardner to highlight his record on jobs and the economy. It also provided an opportunity to take jabs at his opponent, incumbent Democrat Mark Udall.
“The hours of work on average in this state have declined,” Gardner said at a small news conference at the INDUSTRY office development, a creative collaborative office space. “People are working harder and harder each and every day only to find themselves falling further and further behind.
“Enough is enough,” he said. “It’s time for change, and we will make history ... ”
Rob Engstrom, national political director for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said businesses are under threat from Washington, D.C., and that the U.S. Senate seat in Colorado is critical.
“This is ground zero. This is the place that has the clearest choice,” said Engstrom.
He went on to criticize Udall, suggesting that the incumbent has a “record of failure,” including voting to raise taxes and opposing the Keystone XL pipeline.
“He is an ... ideological liberal who thinks that the free-enterprise system is the problem, and we’re going to take issue with that this election,” said Engstrom.
Udall’s campaign responded, pointing out that the senator has worked toward immigration reform and reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank, which helps U.S. companies expand overseas.
“Mark’s record of supporting small businesses in Colorado and helping grow our economy is clear – whether it’s working to fix our broken immigration system, which would add much-needed velocity to our economy and certainty to Colorado businesses; pushing to reauthorize the Export-Import bank, which provides critical financing for Colorado exporters; or supporting tax cuts for small businesses,” said Kristin Lynch, spokeswoman for the Udall campaign.
“Congressman Gardner, on the other hand, has actively worked against small businesses, blocking efforts to fix our broken immigration system, refusing to reauthorize the Ex-Im bank and supporting tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas,” she said.
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
