Probe stings Beauprez

Analysts see damage to campaign for governor from FBI investigation

By Todd Hartman and Stuart Steers, Rocky Mountain News
October 20, 2006

The fallout from an FBI investigation into the Colorado governor's race could significantly damage the already struggling campaign of Republican Bob Beauprez, analysts from across the political spectrum said Thursday.

A day after law enforcement officials launched a criminal probe into the role of the Beauprez campaign in accessing a restricted federal database for an attack ad against Democrat Bill Ritter, the Beauprez campaign went into damage-control mode, as Ritter went to the airwaves with a television ad demanding Beauprez come clean on the issue.

Political consultants, partisans and academics said the development - one that liberal activists already have deemed "Beauprezgate" - makes what polls indicate will be an uphill climb for Beauprez to win the election even harder.

"Anytime you're behind in the polls by double-digits, the clock is fast running out, most of the endorsements are going against you and your name is now attached to the word 'Gate,' you're probably toast," said Eric Sondermann, an unaffiliated campaign consultant. "I don't know that it changes the dynamic as much as cements it."

So far, Beauprez has refused to say where the information came from, other than commenting, "We got the information from a credible source. I know that the information is indisputably true."

9News identified the source Thursday night as Carl Voorhis, whom it identified as a Colorado-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent....

"Bill Ritter is very worried about the specter of having to explain to voters why he put a heroin trafficker back out on the street," said Beauprez campaign manager John Marshall....

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