Colorado Democrat Mark Udall's relentlessly negative campaign has been focused like a laser beam on the crucial issue of his opponent's nonexistent desire to "ban" birth control. Trailing in the polls after many months and many millions of dollars invested in this false line of attack, Udall and his Democratic backers are thinking outside the box by...hitting Cory Gardner with yet another negative television ad on the topic. Maybe the 3,000th time's the charm. At a spirited (but untelevised) debate in Pueblo last night, Gardner challenged Udall directly on whether he supports over-the-counter birth control. 'Senator Uterus' wouldn't answer:
"I answered your question."
"No you didn't."
Cory Gardner favors OTC birth control. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists favors OTC birth control. Two-thirds of the American people, and a huge majority of women, favor OTC birth control. Mark Udall? He can't or won't say, despite having effectively premised his entire re-election campaign on birth control rhetoric. Why the slippery avoidance on this simple question? Two reasons: First, he probably figures he can't come out and agree with Gardner on this point without looking like he's the one being dragged into modernity by the very guy he's been savaging as a backwards prohibitionist for six months. Second, Udall's masters at Planned Parenthood have come out hard against OTC birth control because they stand to lose a lot of business from the competition -- plus, they'd prefer to keep this bogus political issue alive as a means of slamming Republicans and scaring women. Udall also gave a
This is a pattern of behavior, notes Denver Post reporter Lynn Bartels:
.@MarkUdall, when asked about his record, says it's a distraction. Did that in DP debate, too. #copolitics
— Lynn Bartels (@lynn_bartels) October 10, 2014Dare we ask...abandon ship?
$289k of @MajorityPAC #Denver & #ColoradoSprings 10/14-10/20 broadcast CANCELLED #cosen #Sen2014 #SMGReports @CoryGardner @MarkUdall2014
— Smart Media Group (@Smart_MediaGRP) October 10, 2014It seems likely that they're throwing him overboard entirely, but perhaps there's a growing sense that this race is slipping away.
UPDATE - Whoa, the center-left Denver Post comes out swinging in endorsing Gardner:
Rather than run on his record, Udall's campaign has devoted a shocking amount of energy and money trying to convince voters that Gardner seeks to outlaw birth control despite the congressman's call for over-the-counter sales of contraceptives. Udall is trying to frighten voters rather than inspire them with a hopeful vision. His obnoxious one-issue campaign is an insult to those he seeks to convince.
Well said.
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