Hickenlooper, Beauprez Meet For First Debate
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - Colorado Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper and Republican gubernatorial challenger Bob Beauprez, deadlocked in polls heading into the November election, will get a chance to bust open the race when they meet for their first debate.
For Hickenlooper, the brewmaster-turned-politician who was easily elected Denver mayor twice and cruised into the governor's office in 2010, this is arguably the biggest challenge of his career. Beauprez, a former congressman, is getting a second crack at winning the governor's office after a crushing defeat in 2006.
The candidates are debating Saturday evening in Grand Junction at an event hosted by Club 20, an influential western Colorado advocacy group. The group is also hosting state legislative debates and a face-off between Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Udall and Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner - a race that can determine control of the Senate.
While polls show the race tied, Hickenlooper has maintained a big fundraising advantage over Beauprez, raising about $4 million to Beauprez's $828,695. Beauprez has lent himself another $527,000.
The fundraising difference will be crucial as the campaigns battle for air time in the next two months, but both sides are also expecting millions of dollars to pour in from outside groups.
Already, the Republican Governors Association has begun hammering Hickenlooper with a $1.8 million ad buy, criticizing him for his decision to grant an indefinite stay of execution to Nathan Dunlap, who was convicted of killing four people at an Aurora Chuck E. Cheese's.
The Democratic Governors Association, for its part, said it is reserving $3.3 million in television ads this fall to help Hickenlooper.
The Hickenlooper campaign said it will begin airing ads next week.
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