U.S. Senator Wayne Allard would campaign on his environmental record first, if he chooses to run in 2008, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Sen. Wayne Allard won't yet answer the biggest question in Colorado politics: whether he'll seek a third term in 2008. But he offers an interesting hint of how he'd campaign. Asked what he has accomplished in a decade in the Senate, Allard doesn't talk first about how he led the attempt to ban same-sex marriage, or how he pushed for billions of dollars for research into a missile-defense system, or how he pressed to improve the U.S. Air Force Academy's handling of sex-assault accusations. He wants people to know he protected endangered fish. 'When I first got into politics, I never knew that I would be in a position to get that much accomplished as far as improving the environment,' he said. Allard, a Republican with one of the most conservative voting records in the Senate, clearly knows the challenges he'd face in 2008. His state tilted toward the Democrats in last month's election, and there's already a Democrat with a pro-environment bent in the race. Rep. Mark Udall, a five-term congressman and member of a veteran Western political family, has announced that he'll run for Allard's seat...
"Time magazine named him one of the worst senators, but supporters call him an underrated hard-worker. Allard generally is perceived as a mild-mannered, affable lawmaker. There's less agreement on his record. In his decade in the Senate, he has been a loyal vote for a number of conservative causes, including cutting taxes, protecting gun rights and limiting abortion. He has focused heavily on Colorado issues and has passed just one bill with a national scope. Several Democratic Senate aides describe Allard as 'an enigma' who 'doesn't work the system,' adding that 'we never hear much about him.' Time magazine this year named Allard one of the five worst senators. Allard's aides reject that ranking as not based on 'objective criteria.' Allard and his supporters say he works hard behind the scenes. 'He's probably one of the most underrated senators out there,' said former Rep. Scott McInnis, a Grand Junction Republican who has been mentioned as a possible Senate candidate if Allard withdraws. But former Sen. Gary Hart, a Democrat, said, 'I know from 12 years of experience ... (that) in a body as small as the Senate, if you're working, people are going to know it.' Allard describes his political style as 'fairly low-key.' It's so low-key that several top political analysts say they know little about Allard...
"Asked for his top Senate achievements, Allard's aides provided a list that includes, among other items, winning money for Colorado transportation projects, working on water projects, acting to protect open space, passing legislation to create Great Sand Dunes National Park, obtaining money to proceed with chemical weapons destruction at the Pueblo Army Depot, and working to accelerate cleanup and create a wildlife refuge at the site of the former Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Allard said he hasn't chosen to focus on state issues over national debates. He cites his work on missile defense. 'It's not an either-or proposition,' he said. He has passed one bill with a national scope, the American Dream Down Payment Act. It created a special fund to help lower-income families with home down payments. The law, however, didn't provide any separate money beyond what the Department of Housing and Urban Development already gets for home- buying assistance."
Category: Denver November 2008 Election
8:07:37 AM 
|
|
