Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez today nabbed the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, a move that may help him going into the GOP state assembly in May.
Allard’s backing of Beauprez over the other Republican candidate, Marc Holtzman, was an unusual move for Colorado’s senior senator, who tends to avoid involving himself in primaries. But this time, Allard said, was different.
“It is important that we have the right governor leading us,” he said. “I would encourage all Republicans to turn out and vote for Bob Beauprez in the primary.”
Some political watchers, like GOP consultant Katy Atkinson, said the endorsement of Allard – just voted one of the three most conservative members of the senate – could boost Beauprez’s support at the state assembly. This is important because whoever wins gets top line on the primary ballot.
Attended by the party’s core base, GOP convention delegates usually lean towards the most conservative candidate.
Currently, many give Beauprez the edge in the state assembly since he has a track record.
“He has gone before voters before, won elections and served successfully,” said Bob Loevy, a political science professor at Colorado College.
Holtzman is the former University of Denver president and a former cabinet member to Gov. Bill Owens. He has never held elective office.
In addition to Allard, Beauprez has captured endorsements from a number of other GOP heavy hitters, including Owens, all of his U.S. House colleagues from Colorado and 40 GOP state legislators.
Holtzman’s campaign chalked up Allard’s public support as nothing more than the party establishment backing one of their own.
“Look, these elected officials tend to stick together,” said campaign spokesman Dick Leggitt. “We’re running for the people who don’t have a voice.”
Leggitt said the campaign was working on an aggressive caucus and convention program to garner votes.
Staff writer Karen Crummy can be reached at 303-820-1594 or at kcrummy@denverpost.com.
