U.S. Chamber of Commerce president Thomas Donohue is stumping for Republican Congressman Bob Beauprez in the governor’s race.
The chamber does not endorse gubernatorial candidates, but Donohue said Monday that Beauprez is the candidate business should back.
“I came out here to speak favorably for Bob Beauprez,” Donohue said during a visit to The Denver Post. “He has been a longtime supporter of the business community – small business, in particular. And from a personal perspective, I hope he does well.”
Beauprez was a dairy farmer, a developer and a community banker before joining Congress – a résumé that should attract a pro-business vote. But Beauprez reportedly is still mending fences with Colorado’s business community for his stance on Referendums C and D – two measures designed to keep more tax dollars in state coffers.
“I don’t see any fence-mending,” said Evan Dreyer, a spokesman for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter. “I see a Colorado business community that is still very skeptical and leery of Congressman Beauprez, which is part of the reason why Bill has had success winning over what is, traditionally, a Republican base of support.”
The chamber prefers to leave political endorsements to state and local business groups, Donohue said.
