Jared Polis has made Iraq the dominant issue of his campaign for Congress. Now the Boulder Democrat is off to spend Thanksgiving in the war-torn country.
Polis, former chairman of the state education board, is leaving today to spend a week with relief agencies, Iraqi civilians and two deployed Colorado lawmakers.
Polis said the point of the trip is to “get a broader picture of what’s going on” in Iraq, not “hold a large turkey for photo ops.”
He would not say how much the trip will cost, only that his attorney will make sure he follows Federal Election Commission laws. Polis, an Internet entrepreneur, will have to disclose his expenses in early January when the next round of campaign finance reports are due.
Polis announced his plans during a debate Sunday with his primary foes – former state Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald and Boulder conservationist Will Shafroth.
Fitz-Gerald’s campaign said the trip isn’t necessary.
“The facts on Iraq are clear and have been,” she said. “We should end the war immediately and bring the troops home. When Jared gets back, I hope that he agrees me.”
The candidates have sparred on Iraq before, even though their positions on the war are nearly identical.
In September, Polis dug up one of Fitz-Gerald’s 4-year- old state Senate votes backing President Bush.
She supported a resolution this year criticizing the president’s decision to send more troops to Iraq.
Shafroth has said he would not approve any additional funding for the war without “a timetable of withdrawal.”
