With less than a week to go before Election Day, Bob Beauprez spent more time dishing out compliments than gnawing over policy questions during campaign stops across the southeastern metro area Wednesday.
The backslapper replaced the wonk during visits to an auto auction, a metal factory and a Centennial nursing home.
Today Beauprez, who has been lagging Democrat Bill Ritter in the polls, heads out on his final RV tour in a swing that will cover much of the state.
Although much of Wednesday involved non-policy- related chatter with voters, Beauprez touched on several key issues during his short stump speeches and Q&A sessions.
During a tour of the Denver Auto Auction in Aurora, Beauprez managed to work illegal immigration into a conversation with the auction’s human resources manager, Freda Clayborn.
He told Clayborn that he favors requiring secure, verifiable identification that includes a photograph, digital fingerprints and encryption.
The congressman also spent about an hour touring Timminco, an Aurora company that makes frames for Samsonite luggage, bikes and other products from magnesium. Beauprez’s congressional staff has been helping the company fight an import-tax dispute.
After the show-and-tell, Beauprez took some questions from some of the company’s roughly 100 employees.
One worker told Beauprez that he was part of a delegation that delivered a petition to the congressman’s office and Beauprez refused to meet with the group. The man asked Beauprez whether, if elected governor, he would be responsive to all constituents.
“I don’t recall the incident. I don’t know why I might not have been able to meet with you, but access to my staff is the same as accessing me,” Beauprez said.
Staff writer Chris Frates can be reached at 303-954-1633 or cfrates@denverpost.com.
