Republican Gov. Bill Owens blocked off most of Tuesday to campaign with Bob Beauprez, but the campaign’s only stop with the governor was at a high school class filled mostly with kids too young to vote.
Some questioned whether that was the best use of the popular governor as Beauprez tries to bounce back from lagging poll numbers in the gubernatorial race and an FBI probe into his campaign advertising.
“Given the travails of the Beauprez campaign, I think the congressman is lucky that the governor would clear his schedule for him. The risk is more on the governor’s plate,” said Sean Duffy, a former Owens deputy chief of staff.
“The fact that a very popular governor is being underutilized by a struggling Republican gubernatorial campaign is very unfortunate because … the governor would certainly add some credibility and gravitas to a campaign that has been all over the map in terms of issues and effectiveness,” Duffy said.
“I haven’t seen (U.S.) Sen. (Ken) Salazar working much with (Democratic candidate) Bill Ritter. Ask Sean Duffy if he thinks that Sen. Salazar is being underutilized,” Owens said.
Beauprez said his use of Owens has been “perfect.”
Katy Atkinson, a Republican political consultant and Beauprez supporter, said having several joint appearances in the metro area doesn’t necessarily get more news coverage and can muddle the message.
“There’s other ways of taking advantage of having the governor around to help,” she said. “For all we know, he’s on the phone dialing for dollars.”
Owens’ spokesman, Dan Hopkins, said the governor did not raise funds Tuesday or do other behind-the-scenes work.
The governor is scheduled to appear with Beauprez today at a business breakfast and a luncheon fundraiser with Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Another nationally known Republican, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, endorses Beauprez in a television ad that starts airing today.
Beauprez and Owens talked to about 40 juniors at Welby New Technology High School in Adams County on Tuesday.
Shay Larose of Thornton asked Beauprez if he supported the ballot measure to raise the minimum wage because many teens work for the lowest wage.
Beauprez said he opposes it because it could drive up the cost of doing business enough that companies would leave the state and take jobs with them.
“I was surprised,” Larose said. “I thought that he would say he supported it.”
Staff writer Chris Frates can be reached at 303-954-1633 or cfrates@denverpost.com.
