The Herald claims that Sen. Mark Udall is the “clear choice” for senator (Oct. 5), yet the supporting evidence is weak.

After admitting that Udall votes with Obama and Reid “most of the time,” (really, about 99 percent of the time), the Herald cites the weakest list of accomplishments that I have ever seen for a sitting senator. The editorial board offered that Udall, as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, tried to get the Justice Department to reveal the number of Americans who had phone and email records monitored. “Tried” is a notable accomplishment? Surely, the Herald is jesting.

It goes on to list that Udall, as member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, “pushed back” on the foreign-relations policies of Obama, Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan and look what that got us: another war! The Mideast – including Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Syria – are in turmoil. ISIS, the radical Muslim terrorist group, is conducting a bloody revolution in the Middle Eastern Muslim world where they brutally beheaded Western journalists and threaten that America is next. But don’t worry: Obama will take another golfing vacation as he continues to skip his security briefings; he’s missed 60 percent at last count.

Speaking of missing things, Udall has missed more than his share of Senate votes. Are these more of Udall’s accomplishments? Surely, the Herald is joking, but I’m not laughing. If these are the best of Udall’s nearly six years in the Senate, I can only wonder how he’s wasted his time and our money – climbing Colorado’s fourteeners? I read that he’s a climber. Udall was a very bad choice in 2008. There have been some good Udall family members in government, but Mark Udall is not one of them. He’s been a major disappointment.

Rep. Cory Gardner will work for all Coloradans. Gardner believes in national security, economic growth and jobs instead of welfare, and he won’t be Harry Reid’s hand-puppet.

Jim Beatty

Durango