Republican Bob Beauprez, who is running for governor, poses with his wife Claudia, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and U.S. Senate hopeful Cory Gardner after a rally Thursday in Colorado Springs. (Gardner photo)
A year after calling Colorado Congressmen Cory Gardner a “hypocrite,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie campaigned in Colorado on the Senate hopeful’s behalf.
Christie and other New Jersey officials were livid last year when Colorado’s Republican congressmen who had opposed the $50 billion Hurricane Sandy relief package asked for some of the money to help with the Centennial’s state historic flooding. “They’re hypocrites. Thatap what they are,” Christie said, in a telephone town hall, adding there was “no other way to put it.”
Gardner and the other Colorado Republicans have said they voted against the relief package because an amendment that would have allowed them to tap the money for wildfire relief didn’t pass through committee.
Christie didn’t back down on last year’s statement after a campaign rally Thursday in Colorado Springs.
“Listen, my view still is that Cory Gardner was wrong on that vote. But you know, if you’re looking for a candidate you agree with 100 percent of the time go home and look in the mirror,” Christie said. “But he overwhelmingly is a better choice for the U.S Senate than Sen. Udall, overwhelmingly.”
Gardner’s attempt to unseat Democrat Mark Udall — one of a handful of races that will decide which party controls the Senate after the election — is one of the . National and international reporters have descended on Colorado, following the candidates on the stump and to turn in their ballots.
Christie, who is chairman of the Republican Governors Association, also campaigned , who is trying to unseat Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Among those speaking at the Colorado Springs rally was Attorney General John Suthers, the former El Paso County district attorney, who worked with Christie when Christie was New Jersey’s attorney general. Suthers, a Republican, normally avoids criticizing his Democratic client, Gov. Hickenlooper, but let loose at the rally. Perhaps it’s because the election is Tuesday and he is term limited.
“Law and order is not our current governor’s strength,” Suthers said, talking about various criminal justice measures and Hickenlooper’s position on them.
Gardner and Beauprez also rallied in Pueblo on Thursday, with speakers reminding the candidates what Pueblo pulled off last year: In a heavily Democratic district, over her gun votes and replaced her with Republican George Rivera.
