Gov. Jared Polis “Disappointed” Romanoff Chose to Attack Hick
After an increasingly desperate Andrew Romanoff launched a new attack ad against John Hickenlooper this morning, leaders from across Colorado spoke out against his misleading smears.
Here’s what they have to say:
Governor Jared Polis: “Winning the US Senate seat in Colorado is essential to achieving a Democratic majority and moving our nation forward. I’m disappointed that Andrew Romanoff has chosen to throw mud and attack John Hickenlooper instead of focusing on his own vision and record. … There is much more that unites Democrats than divides us, and both John and Andrew have done a lot for Colorado. I hope that Andrew reconsiders this counterproductive attack ad, so that we can put Democrats in the best position to win in November.”
Senator Michael Bennet: “Right now, Cory Gardner, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and Andrew Romanoff are all running attack ads against @Hickenlooper. It’s clear who Republicans fear in November—and rightly so.
Andrew Romanoff’s false attack ad against John Hickenlooper is yet another gift to Republicans, who are doing everything in their power to help Andrew. Right now, Cory Gardner, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and Andrew Romanoff are all running attack ads against John. It’s clear who Republicans fear in November—and rightly so.
John Hickenlooper has a record of progressive accomplishments, not cynical talking points. He expanded Medicaid to give health care to more than half a million Coloradans and secured early childhood education for thousands of kids. He passed background checks for gun purchases and limited the size of magazines after the tragic shooting in Aurora. He made our state the first ever to regulate methane emissions, creating a model for the Obama Administration regulations that Donald Trump and Cory Gardner have overturned. On top of everything else, in partnership with Coloradans all over our state, he helped steer us through devastating floods and fires (on crutches, no less).
That’s what John offers as our next senator, while Andrew offers cynical, false attacks that play into the Republicans’ hands. This is all part of the same playbook Andrew used against my campaign in 2010—false attack after false attack. It didn’t work then, and we can’t allow it to work now.”
Congressman Ed Perlmutter: “Winning the US Senate seat in Colorado has never been more important. I’m disappointed in Andrew Romanoff for taking a page from the Republican playbook. #copolitics #cosen”
Attorney General Phil Weiser: “For Dems committed to winning this race, we would do well to stick to drawing contrasts rather than lobbing ad hominem attacks. As Steve Jobs put it, winning teams fight the competition; losing teams fight themselves. We need to win in Nov.”
Former U.S. Rep. John Salazar, who switched his endorsement from Romanoff to Hickenlooper earlier this week: “You don’t build yourself up by tearing another man down. That’s why I am supporting John Hickenlooper. He doesn’t do negative campaigning against his friends.”
Former U.S. Ambassador and Senate candidate Dan Baer: “Andrew Romanoff is a talented guy with enormous stamina who makes the case for his own candidacy eloquently. The Republican machine has done a lot in recent months to give him a boost. It’s sad to see him now actively joining forces with Republicans to attack Hickenlooper. … Hick and Romanoff have done several debates, both have had a chance to make the affirmative case for their candidacy. There’s a difference between drawing contrasts and going hard negative by rehashing misleading Republican attacks.
Somewhere, Mitch McConnell is smiling.”
Former Colorado House Majority Leader and U.S. Senate candidate Alice Madden: “I have held off commenting on this race but this ad is a lo blow & a gift to the #GOP. I have known both Andrew & John for a long time. I may [disagree] with John on some issues but NEVER have I doubted his integrity. Bad form Andrew. We have to beat Gardner. Take it down.”
State Senator Kerry Donovan: “There’s no reason for @Romanoff2020 to throw mud and run a negative ad paid for by his supporters. Not the Colorado I know. @Hickenlooper has never tried to divide us.”
State Rep. Bri Buentello: “Andrew Romanoff’s new ad is an affront to Democratic values. If he has any decency, he would take this ad down today. We do not sling mud at each other. He and I may have legitimate policy differences, but when you resort to baseless personal attacks, it shows you cannot win on your own merits.”
Bill Holen, Arapahoe County Commissioner, who switched his endorsement from Romanoff to Hickenlooper today: “I have worked with both Andrew and John, and consider them both friends. However, this is not what we do as Democrats. We need to focus on winning back the Senate. Andrew should take this ad down and focus on the issues.”
Colorado Pols: “Going negative with what little money he has left in his campaign account is a strange strategic choice for Romanoff — particularly when Republicans are already spending more than a million dollars on television with a negative message against Hickenlooper (both the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Sen. Cory Gardner are running anti-Hick ads). The smarter move for Romanoff would have been to run nothing but positive ads; since Republicans are already making the case against Hickenlooper, it would have made more sense to focus attention on making the case for Romanoff.”
Colorado Politics: “Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Hickenlooper won endorsements Friday from nearly two dozen current and former elected officials and civic leaders, including a handful who switched their allegiance from Hickenlooper’s primary rival Andrew Romanoff. .. One of the switchers called on Romanoff to pull a TV ad his campaign launched Friday that uses a 2010 Hickenlooper ad that derides negative campaigning to attack the former two-term governor.”
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