DENVER – U.S. Senate Democratic incumbent Mark Udall and Republican challenger Cory Gardner battled Monday in their second debate over who truly represents Colorado.
Udall, in a tight re-election race against Congressman Gardner, defended some of President Barack Obama’s policies, but worked hard to filter issues through a Colorado lens.
Gardner repeatedly linked Udall to Obama’s policies, suggesting that Udall has forgotten Colorado.
“The policies of this campaign that are at issue, that are on debate right now, the president just said it yesterday, his policies are on the ballot, and that’s what we’re going to be discussing today, the policies of the president and the fact that Mark Udall has voted with him 99 percent of the time,” Gardner said at the start of the debate.
The exchange was moderated by POLITICO reporter Manu Raju and hosted by business groups, including the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Udall hit back by pointing to Gardner’s conservative record.
“He has the 10th most partisan record in the House of Representatives, his record is out of the mainstream, it’s in the extreme, and that’s the contrast that you have in this race,” Udall said.
On energy, Gardner pressed Udall hard, repeatedly asking the senator from Eldorado Springs to place a price tag on a federal proposal to cap carbon emissions.
Udall responded, “We were ready for the EPA regulations. Carbon pollution is real. Coloradans know that the climate science, a lot of which is generated here, is showing us that we have to act. But Coloradans see this as an opportunity. We are prepared to put a price on carbon.”
Gardner had a different take on the desires of Coloradans, pivoting to the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which would run from the oil sands in Alberta, Canada, to refineries on the Gulf Coast.
“I too want to put a Colorado face to the Keystone pipeline,” Gardner said. “Thousands of jobs can be created right here in the state if we move forward with the Keystone pipeline. (There’s) overwhelming support from the state of Colorado for the Keystone pipeline.”
Udall expressed environmental concerns, adding, “Congressman Gardner is overstating the economic effect of this pipeline. The pipeline process has been politicized. My focus has been on making sure that Colorado continues to lead.”
Gardner was then pressed on climate change, saying, “There is no doubt that pollution contributes to the climate change in and around us, but what I refuse to do is support a climate tax bill.”
As the conversation moved to health care, Gardner pressed Udall on a promise he made that Coloradans would be allowed to keep their insurance plans after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
About 340,000 Coloradans received cancelation notices, but many of those people and families were allowed to renew their old plans, or find better, cheaper plans.
“The primary promises that were made in Obamacare, and Sen. Udall repeated every single one of them, that if you like your health-care plan you can keep your health-care plan ... turned out not to be true,” Gardner said.
Udall responded, “I was angry as anybody. I authored a piece of legislation so people could keep their plans. I was in the face of the White House.”
The two candidates have two more debates scheduled this week, including tonight hosted by The Denver Post.
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
