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Holtzman airs commercials

Candidate's TV ads begin months before Republican primary

Jody Berger, Rocky Mountain News

Published May 17, 2006 at midnight

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Marc Holtzman on Tuesday became the first gubernatorial contender this season to air statewide television ads, three days before Republicans choose a candidate at the party assembly and three months before voters choose one in the primary election.

Holtzman and U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez, the other candidate for the GOP nomination, also traded sharply worded letters Tuesday debating the merits of Holtzman's drive to petition his way onto the primary ballot.

In the 60-second TV ad, Holtzman stands before his campaign bus and talks about his opposition to Referendum C, the measure that voters passed last fall allowing the state to keep surplus tax revenue for roads, schools and health care.

"I took a clear stand in opposing Referendum C and its almost $4 billion tax hike because I knew it was state spending that was out of control," Holtzman says.

"As governor, I'll cut taxes by more than $1 billion, restore the state spending caps and end benefits for illegals," Holtzman continues.

People in Beauprez's camp immediately said the ads, coming this early in the election season, showed Holtzman's desperation.

"This says to me that he's very worried about his campaign and feels he has to start pumping large sums of money into television ads months before any kind of vote," said Beauprez campaign manager John Marshall.

Katy Atkinson, a longtime Republican political consultant and a Beauprez supporter, called campaign money precious and said, "You'd be conserving those dollars for the primary election unless you're trying to convince people that you're electable."

Jesse Mallory, Holtzman's press secretary, said the opposite was true.

"We're just eager to spread the message of Marc's vision to the voters of Colorado," Mallory said.

Mallory declined to be more specific, but the ads could be aimed at Republican delegates who will cast their ballots at the state assembly on Saturday. A candidate needs 30 percent of the delegates' votes to win a spot on the primary ballot.

If Holtzman fails to get 30 percent, he can still get on the ballot by collecting 10,500 signatures statewide. The ads could be aimed at raising his name recognition and improving his chances with the petition drive.

The letter exchange began when Beauprez sent word to Holtzman asking him to drop the petition campaign altogether.

"I am prepared to accept the will of the delegates at the State Assembly, and I ask you to do the same," Beauprez wrote.

Holtzman responded by saying he intends "to submit my candidacy to the voters and abide by their decision on August 8."

The television ads will run through Sunday in Denver, Colorado Springs and Grand Junction.

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