The Udall campaign released the results of its latest internal poll today...

For Immediate Release - Thursday September 11th, 2008

Contact: Tara Trujillo, 303.820.2008(o)

NEW POLL SHOWS COLORADANS REJECTING MASSIVE SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST MARK UDALL

After $8 Million in Anti-Udall Attack Ads, Including Nearly $7 Million Since August 1st, Udall Still Holds 11-Point Lead Over Schaffer

 

Coloradans are overwhelmingly rejecting a multi-million-dollar smear campaign launched by Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer and his allies against Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mark Udall, according to a new poll conducted by Colorado-based Harstad Strategic Research, Inc., for the Udall campaign. The poll shows Udall holds a 45%-34% lead over Schaffer.

Udall holds his lead despite over $8.6 million in attack ad spending against Udall by the Schaffer campaign and outside groups—including $6.9 million just since August 1st.

And despite massive spending on ads smearing Mark Udall's record on energy and taxes, Udall has actually gained ground since August on those issues among Coloradans, who favor Mark Udall over Bob Schaffer on energy, taxes, and standing up for the middle class.

"These results indicate that the attack campaign being waged by several out-of-state groups on Bob Schaffer's behalf has been strikingly ineffective so far," said Paul Harstad, CEO of Harstad Strategic Research. "In fact, to the contrary, Mark Udall's position has actually strengthened on the exact issues these ads have sought to attack him on."

"Coloradans are looking at the record and seeing that Mark Udall stands with them, while Bob Schaffer consistently stands with the Bush administration, the big oil companies, and corrupt lobbyists like Jack Abramoff," said Udall spokeswoman Tara Trujillo.  "Schaffer and his front groups are spending millions of dollars to hide that record, but Coloradans aren't being fooled."

The poll of 752 likely Colorado voters was conducted September 7th through the 9th, and has a 3.6% margin of error. Harstad Strategic Research has a long record of work in Colorado campaigns and issues, including serving as pollster to Senator Ken Salazar.

 Click here to see the numbers.

Sarah Palin requisitioned quite a bit of money for Alaska's aerial shooting of wolves program.  According to the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, she is an enemy to animals there.

Rural New Yorkers are questioning whether states or towns determine where wind zones are located and if a state entity will regulate the transparency of lucrative deals in renewable energy products.

In Colorado, Bill Ritter's Climate Action Plan, has produced "green" grants and is trying to reduce the size of carbon footprints in Colorado.  One news item pinpoints Colorado utilities as the spur behind production in renewable energy.

Mark Udall E-Newsletter

Featured Supporter: Ken

The Udall Campaign released the following statement today. You will be able to see the debate for yourself on FOX 31 this Sunday at 10:00 p.m.

For Immediate Release - Monday July 28th, 2008

Contact: Tara Trujillo, 303.820.2008(o)

IN SECOND DEBATE, UDALL STANDS WITH COLORADANS FOR LOWER GAS PRICES, SCHAFFER STANDS WITH OIL COMPANIES

Debate Makes Contrast Clear - Udall's Plan to Lower Prices for Coloradans vs. Schaffer's Plan to Raise Profits for Oil Companies

DENVER - U.S. Senate candidate Mark Udall delivered a clear choice to Colorado voters in today's second debate of the campaign, taped at the FOX 31 studios - the Udall plan to lower gas prices immediately, break America's dependence on foreign oil, and create jobs in Colorado, or the Schaffer plan to drive profits even higher for big oil companies while Colorado families get no relief at the pump.

"It was clear from today's debate that Mark Udall is committed to real, immediate gas price relief and energy independence for America, while Bob Schaffer is only committed to putting more money in the pockets of the oil companies who are making record-breaking profits at the expense of Colorado families," said Udall spokeswoman Tara Trujillo.

Udall outlined his comprehensive plan to lower gas prices immediately through increases in domestic drilling, cracking down on speculation and price manipulation schemes on Wall Street, and easing supply pressures by releasing some oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve - a move Congressional Republicans blocked just last week. Udall also called for reducing gas prices and breaking America's dependence on foreign oil through investing in renewable energy sources like wind, solar and bio-fuels that create jobs and economic growth right here in Colorado, as well as improvements in energy conservation, increases in fuel efficiency standards for cars, and a renewed focus on energy from nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas technologies.

Udall's comprehensive plan to lower gas prices for Coloradans - backed by his career-long record as a national leader on energy policy - stood in stark contrast to Bob Schaffer's insistence on more hand-outs to an oil industry that continues to rake in record-breaking profits while families struggle, and more lockstep marching with the Bush/Cheney energy policy that created the gas price crisis in the first place. Throughout his career, Schaffer has consistently stood against investments in renewable energy, alternative fuels, and fuel efficiency that could have moved America towards energy independence.

"Bob Schaffer proved again today that, just as he has his entire career, he'll always put Big Oil first, even when it means Colorado families lose," said Trujillo. "After eight years of that kind of politics, all we've got is $4 per gallon gas and no end in sight. We deserve someone standing up for Colorado, not special interests, and Mark Udall proved today that he's the only candidate in this race who will do that.

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The Udall campaign released the following statement this morning. View the new ad here.

For Immediate Release - Monday July 28th, 2008

Contact: Tara Trujillo, 303.820.2008(o)

NEW UDALL CAMPAIGN AD SETS RECORD STRAIGHT ON SCHAFFER FRONT GROUP SMEARS

Gives Coloradans the Facts on Udall Record of Middle-Class Tax Cuts, Schaffer Hand-Outs to Special Interests

Senate candidate Mark Udall's campaign today released a new television ad, setting the record straight on the latest attempt by Schaffer campaign front groups and special interests to smear Udall's record.

The new ad, called "Facts," highlights Udall's long record of support for tax cuts for middle-class families and small businesses, including voting to reduce taxes 65 times in Congress. The ad also contrasts Udall's record of standing up for Colorado families with Bob Schaffer's record of supporting billions of dollars in tax handouts to big oil companies and the super-wealthy.

"We're all Coloradans," says Udall in the ad. "We deserve better than when Washington sells out to special interests."

"We will not stand by while Bob Schaffer and the shady groups funded by special interests that are backing him distort Mark Udall's record of fighting for tax relief for Colorado's middle-class families and small businesses," said Udall campaign spokeswoman Tara Trujillo. "The facts are that Mark Udall has voted to cut taxes for Coloradans 65 times, while Bob Schaffer spent his time in Congress voting to give tax breaks to the big oil companies, HMOs and other special interests that are bankrolling his campaign. Coloradans deserve better than these false attacks, and they deserve better than Bob Schaffer's record of standing up for special interests instead of the interests of our families."

"Facts" is a direct response to a smear ad launched Thursday by Coloradans for Economic Growth (CEG), a shady front-group that has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to prop up Bob Schaffer's campaign. CEG was last seen bankrolling an ad that used butterflies, 1970s-style swirls of color, and cartoons in an attempt to mislead Coloradans about Bob Schaffer's record of opposing renewable energy investment and carrying the oil industry's agenda in Congress.

"Facts" began airing on television this morning and can be viewed at http://www.markudall.com/FACTS.  A script and back-up information is included below.

"FACTS" - :30 TV

SCRIPT:

[VO] They're at it again. Powerful interests with false attacks on Mark Udall.

The facts: Mark Udall's voted to reduce taxes on middle-class families and Colorado's small businesses sixty-five times. It's true. While Bob Schaffer and his special interest allies keep giving away billions in tax breaks to billionaires and big oil companies.

[UDALL] We're all Coloradans. We deserve better than when Washington sells out to special interests. I'm Mark Udall, and I approved this message.

BACK-UP:

Mark Udall Has Voted to Reduce Taxes at Least 65 Times, Targeting Tax Cuts to the Small Businesses and Middle-Class Families Who Need Them Most.  [RCV#76, 3/25/1999], [RCV#537, 10/26/1999], [RCV#611, 11/18/1999], [RCV# 331, 7/22/1999], [RCV#430, 7/25/2000], [RCV# 126, 4/13/2000], [RCV#74, 3/23/2000], [RCV# 489, 9/26/2000],  [RCV#15, 2/10/2000], [RCV#40, 3/9/2000][RCV# 392, 7/12/2000], [RCV# 449, 7/27/2000], [RCV#254, 6/9/2000], [RCV# 42, 3/8/2001], [RCV#146, 5/23/2001], [RCV# 75, 3/29/2001], [RCV#112, 5/15/2001], [RCV#111, 5/15/2001], [RCV# 117, 5/16/2001]  [RCV#124, 5/17/2001], [RCV# 69, 3/28/2001], [RCV#402, 10/24/2001], [RCV#340, 9/13/2001], [RCV#351, 7/25/2002], [RCV#451, 10/9/2002], [RCV#229, 6/13/2002], [RCV#177, 5/21/2002], [RCV#430, 10/2/2002], [RCV#217, 6/6/2002], [RCV#286, 7/9/2002], [RCV#287, 6/18/2003], [RCV#1528, 6/19/2003],  [RCV#390, 7/17/2003], [RCV#209, 5/20/2004],  [RCV# 509, 10/7/2004], [RCV#405, 7/21/2004], [RCV#170, 5/13/2004],  [RCV#468, 9/23/2004], [RCV#144, 5/5/2004] [RCV#91, 3/25/2004], [RCV#128, 4/28/2004], [RCV# 138, 4/28/2004],[RCV#134, 12/8/2005] [RCV#619, 12/8/2005], [RCV# 613,12/7/2005], [RCV#118, 4/20/2005]  [RCV# 101, 4/13/2005], [RCV# #314, 6/22/2006], [RCV#74, 3/29/2006], [RCV#424, 4/24/2007], [RCV#948, 10/24/2007], [RCV# 1025, 10/31/2007],  [RCV#1081, 11/9/2007] [RCV#1183, 12/19/2007], [RCV#1153, 12/12/2007] [RCV#102, 2/16/2007] [RCV# 40, 1/18/2007] [RCV#1140, 12/6/2007] [RCV#1014, 10/30/2007], [RCV#835, 12/6/2007],[RCV#25, 1/29/2008], [RCV# 84, 2008],  [RCV# 190, 4/15/2008], [RCV#187, 4/15/2008], [RCV#344, 5/21/2008], [RCV# 338, 5/21/2008], [RCV#455, 6/25/2008], [RCV#451, 6/25/2008].

Mark Udall is a Cosponsor of Legislation to Expand Opportunity for Middle Class Families.  Mark Udall is a cosponsor of the Middle Class Opportunity Act, which would: (1) increase the child tax credit for the first year of eligibility; (2) allow the use of the dependent care tax credit to care for family members not residing with the taxpayer; and (3) increase the maximum qualifying income for an exemption from the Alternative Minimum Tax. [H.R. 2902]

Schaffer Supported the 2001 Bush Energy Plan Which Included Nearly $13 Billion in Tax Breaks for the Oil and Gas Industry: [HR 4, Roll Call #320, 8/2/01]

Schaffer Supported the 2004 Bush Energy Plan, Which Even John McCain Called "No Lobbyist Left Behind": "I support all aspects of the president's [energy] plan.  I think the president is on the right track." [Bob Schaffer, NFIB Debate, 7/1/04]

The 2004 Energy Bill Included Nearly $12 Billion in Tax Breaks for the Oil and Gas Industry. "Senators, notably Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) refused to swallow it. He called it the ‘No-Lobbyist-Left-Behind' bill." [HR 4503, 6/15/2004; HR 6, 11/18/2003; http://sierraclub.typepad.com/cleanenergywatch/2007/12/analysis-energy.html]

Schaffer Supported Giving $25 Billion in Tax Rebates to Big Corporations like Enron and Chevron:  Schaffer voted for the GOP stimulus package, which included $25 billion in payments to big business but did not include significant provisions for displaced workers. The bill gave 83 percent of its benefits in FY 2002 to corporations and the wealthy. [HR 3090, Vote #404, 10/24/2001]

Schaffer Supported the Bush Tax Cuts That Gave More Than Half the Benefits to the Wealthiest 1%. According to the Citizens for Tax Justice, when the Bush tax cuts are fully in place, more than half of the benefit of the cuts (52 percent of the total tax cuts) will go to the richest one percent. [HR 3, Vote #45, 3/8/2001; HR  1836, Vote #149, 5/26/01; Vote #103, 4/18/2002; Citizens for Tax Justice, 2002, http://www.ctj.org/html/gwb0602.htm]

Schaffer's Website Notes That He Will Work to Extend the Bush Tax Cuts for the Wealthy. [http://www.bobschafferforsenate.com/index.php?c=issues.open&id=18&p]

Schaffer Opposed Transparency for Corporate Welfare Handouts. Schaffer voted against requiring  the OMB to analyze the value of benefits which corporations reap from government handouts.  Each year corporations receive welfare in the form of tax breaks, subsidized loans and grants, and use of federal facilities, assets, and land. The libertarian Cato Institute has estimated the cost of these subsidies at $75 billion per year. Time magazine puts it at $125 billion. [HR 1074, Vote #355, 7/26/99]

Schaffer Supported Keeping a Tax Loophole that Allows Corporations to Locate Their Headquarters Offshore in Order to Avoid Paying Federal Taxes. [HR 4931, Vote #247)

Schaffer Voted to Subsidize Corporations That Lay Off American Workers. [HR 2871, Vote #120, 5/1/02]

Schaffer Voted to Give Homeland Security Contracts to Offshore Tax Dodgers: Schaffer opposed an effort to bar companies that avoid paying U.S. taxes by moving their headquarters overseas from being awarded contracts with the new Homeland Security Department. [HR 5005, Vote #366, 7/26/02]

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Mark Udall E-Newsletter

Featured Supporter: Debbie Fisher

The powerful special interests are at it again—launching false attacks on Mark Udall. But, here are the facts: Mark Udall has voted to reduce taxes on middle class families and Colorado's small businesses—at least 65 times. It's true (see below the more than 65 votes Mark Udall has cast to reduce taxes on small businesses and the middle class). Meanwhile, Bob Schaffer and his special interest allies just keep giving away billions in tax breaks to millionaires, big oil companies, and corporations who ship American jobs overseas.

Coloradans deserve better than false, misleading attacks. And Coloradans deserve better than when Washington and Bob Schaffer sell out to special interests.

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Mark Udall E-Newsletter

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Mark Udall E-Newsletter

Featured Blog Post: This is the year" By Peter Fisk