Gardner, Hick face off
Republican brings up ethics violations, puts rival on defensive
U. S. Sen. Cory Gardner and his opponent, John Hickenlooper, squared off for the first time Friday night in Pueblo during an hour- long debate that featured frequent attacks and exposed considerable personality differences between the candidates.
Gardner, a Yuma Republican who is trailing in every poll, is the better debater, and Republicans are hopeful he can gain ground during this month’s forums. On Friday night, the freshman senator pressed Hickenlooper on two ethics violations, his refusal to comply with a subpoena in June and an ensuing contempt citation.
“This is someone who thinks it’s OK to take jets to Switzerland and Italy. Well, not everybody in Pueblo is a millionaire or has the ability to do that,” Gardner said. “It’s a very clear contrast between somebody who believes the people of Colorado are first — that’s what I believe — and somebody who believes their own self- interests are first and that they want to go to Washington to line their own pockets.”
Hickenlooper, a Denver Democrat and former governor, spent much of his time on the defensive, pushing back against an almost endless barrage of attacks from Gardner on topics from ethics to energy to his former judicial nominations. Hickenlooper tried to keep the focus on health care, specifically an effort to overturn the Affordable Care Act, a health law Gardner considers unconstitutional.
“Are we really, in the middle of a pandemic, going to strip away health care and protections for people with preexisting conditions?” Hickenlooper said.
The format for Friday’s debate was unusually open, with only a few broad questions asked of the candidates and wide latitude granted in how they answered.
Gardner used the format to his advantage, repeatedly attacking Hickenlooper and forcing the former governor to answer accusing questions, putting Hickenlooper on the defensive time and again.
Hickenlooper responded to most of the allegations but at other times shook his head or laughed at the nonstop criticisms of his character. Near the end of the debate, an exasperated Hickenlooper said, “Nothing but attacks and accusations.”
Because the questions to the candidates were vague, Gardner was able to dodge thorny issues, such as how to replace the Affordable Care Act or whether Trump has done a good job as president. Hickenlooper repeatedly tried to tie Gardner to the president, who is unpopular in Colorado.
“The bottom line is, he’s been with Donald Trump 100% of the time,” Hickenlooper said of Gardner. “He and President Trump are side by side … the closest of friends.”
The Friday night debate occurred less than 24 hours after Trump tested positive for COVID- 19. As a result, Gardner and Hickenlooper were tested before the debate. Their tests came back negative, allowing the event to occur.
The pandemic was referenced often during the debate but was asked about only in the fourth and final question. Gardner used the question to attack Hickenlooper for not better preparing the state of Colorado for a pandemic. Hickenlooper laughed off the criticism and criticized the Trump administration.
Friday night’s debate, sponsored by the Pueblo Chieftain and moderated by its editor, was the first of four between Gardner and Hickenlooper over the next dozen days.
None of the debates will include a live audience, because of the pandemic.
Instead, the two political heavyweights, each of whom has won every election he has competed in, sat in a quiet studio at Pueblo Community College, stayed distanced in accordance with health guidelines, and put on masks immediately after. The next debate between the two is at 4 p. m. Tuesday on Telemundo, in English and Spanish. That will be followed by one at 5 p. m. Oct. 9 on Denver7, cohosted by The Denver Post , and a 9News showdown at 6 p. m. Oct. 13.