CENTENNIAL, Colo.—Republican Senate candidate Jane Norton wants a more aggressive campaign.
Norton’s new campaign manager, former GOP governor hopeful Josh Penry, said Wednesday that Norton is “ready to go on offense” and plans to be more visible in a primary contest against Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck.
“She’s ready to hit back,” Penry said. “People will see far more offense from the Norton campaign.”
Norton, a former lieutenant governor, has a wide fundraising lead in the Republican contest to challenge Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet this November. But Buck won last month’s party caucus straw polls and has strong appeal among tea party groups and other conservatives unhappy with the national GOP.
Penry, whose salary wasn’t disclosed, said he wants to increase Norton’s visibility among conservatives. He defended her decision to forgo a state GOP assembly in favor of petitioning onto primary ballots, saying it would give her camp a chance for retail politicking “outside grocery stores and post offices.”
Both Penry and Norton are from Grand Junction. Penry was running for governor but dropped out in November to avoid a bruising primary against his former boss, former Rep. Scott McInnis.
Penry has said he would not seek re-election to his Senate seat this fall. Penry replaces Norton’s former campaign consultant, Norm Cummings, who will stay on as an adviser.
Norton also said she has hired Rich Beeson as a consultant. Beeson was the Republican National Committee’s political director during the 2008 campaign.
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