Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez Monday lashed out at his Democratic opponent Bill Ritter, calling his positions on marriage and abortion “unthinkable.”
“He professes to be a devout, pro-life Catholic but then he says two unthinkable things,” said Beauprez, also a Catholic, before walking in a Labor Day parade in Louisville. “He suggests we should redefine marriage and he says abortions for fetal anomalies is OK with him.”
Ritter, who was in Leadville finishing up his 15-month quest to hit every Colorado county at least once, brushed off Beauprez’s criticism.
“I have been talking to people all weekend and no one has questioned my Catholicism,” he said. “They are talking about K-12 reform, transportation and health care.”
Ritter said last week that he would support changing the state’s statute that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The next day he clarified his comment, saying he supports the marriage definition but would also approve making civil unions between same-sex couples legal.
The former Denver district attorney also opposes abortion except in cases where the life of the mother is at stake, rape, incest and “fetal anomalies.”
Beauprez supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, but backs contractual relationships, including those for gay couples. He opposes abortion except when the life of the mother is at stake.
Beauprez took off a chunk of Labor Day weekend to be with his family, while Ritter visited five counties. With only 64 days left until the November election, every day of campaigning counts.
“We’re going to show that Bill is very different than he professes to be,” said Beauprez, who must spend some of the next few weeks in Washington, D.C.
Ritter said he will continue to travel the state talking to voters.
Staff writer Karen Crummy can be reached at 303-954-1594 or at kcrummy@denverpost.com.–
