Gardner wins key newspaper endorsement

The Denver Post is endorsing Republican Cory Gardner in his bid to unseat Colorado Democratic Sen. Mark Udall, in one of 2014’s key midterm races.

The Post, which had endorsed Udall in 2008, praised the senator personally but did not mince words on his political impact, saying that he “is not perceived as a leader in Washington” and had attempted to “frighten voters rather than inspire them with a hopeful vision.”

{mosads}”It’s time for a change,” the newspaper editorial board wrote.

Gardner, who is giving up a safe House seat to challenge Udall, can offer “fresh leadership, energy and ideas” in the Senate, the Post added. 

Gardner’s emphasis on the economy and renewable energy outpaces his conservative positions on same-sex marriage and abortion rights, in the editorial board’s view. 

Udall’s campaign has criticized Gardner for his past support for a controversial “personhood” measure that would grant legal rights to fertilized human eggs. Critics say the measure could threaten abortion rights and access to birth control.

The Post’s editors, though, dismissed those attacks from Udall.

“Gardner’s election would pose no threat to abortion rights,” the paper said.

This week during trio of debates along Colorado’s Front Range, the candidates sparred over birth control, ObamaCare and jobs. Polls show Gardner with a slight edge in the close race.

The Post in 2008 praised Udall’s “proven track record of bipartisan accomplishments,” but on Friday, it had harsh criticism for the incumbent senator, saying that he was “not at the center of the issues that count,” and comparing him unfavorably to Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) , whom the newspaper backed in 2010.

The paper credited Udall’s work promoting wind energy and opposing the National Security Agency’s mass surveillance programs as “rare exceptions.”

The newspaper endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012.

The editors also suggested that having a single-party Congress with a president from the opposing party could encourage compromise. Republicans must net six Senate seats to take control of the upper chamber.