GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.—Democratic Rep. John Salazar of Colorado tried to distance himself from ruling Democrats in Washington Saturday in a debate with Republican Scott Tipton.
Salazar reminded voters in Grand Junction that he fought Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others in his party on a climate-change bill that would set up a cap-and-trade scheme to limit carbon emissions.
“I fought like crazy to defeat that in the House,” said Salazar, who is seeking a fourth term from Colorado’s largest congressional district. The climate-change bill ultimately passed the House but is stalled in the Senate.
Tipton accused Salazar of being too cozy with Democrats in Washington. Salazar responded that combative rhetoric simply isn’t his style. “You’ve never seen me get up on the floor of the House and beat up on Republicans,” Salazar said.
Most of the argument was about government spending.
Tipton blasted Salazar for voting in favor of the health care overhaul. Salazar defended the vote, saying the overhaul would ultimately save money.
Salazar accused Tipton of misleading voters by promising deep cuts in government spending without explaining what he’d cut.
Tipton unsuccessfully challenged Salazar four years ago and lost badly. This year, the political environment is better for both Republicans and non-incumbents.
Several dozen Tipton supporters rallied before the debate, the first this year between Salazar and Tipton. When Salazar supporters showed up nearby, the Republicans took up some old-fashioned jeering, starting a round of “Hey hey hey, goodbye.” During the debate, Democratic Salazar supporters at one point started laughing at Tipton. The mood was combative.
Throughout the hourlong debate, Tipton depicted Salazar as an out-of-touch politician who doesn’t spend enough time talking to constituents.
“I think it’d be a good idea if we had a congressman who was willing to come to the district and look your constituents in the eye,” Tipton said, to loud cheers from Republicans in the crowd.
Salazar reminded the crowd of his humble roots as a southern Colorado potato farmer.
“I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I was born with a shovel in my hand,” Salazar said.
