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GOP congressional candidates mostly agree

By John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published May 21, 2008 at 9 p.m.

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Mike Coffman

Mike Coffman

Wil Armstrong

Wil Armstrong

Ted Harvey

Ted Harvey

Steve Ward

Steve Ward

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Moments before taping a show Wednesday, conservative talk show host Jon Caldara looked around the table at the four Republican candidates vying for the 6th Congressional District seat and paid them a backhanded compliment.

"I gotta say, this really sucks for me," Caldara quipped, professing his admiration for all four candidates. "I hope you all lose."

The remark seemed apt.

During the hourlong debate that followed, there was little significant disagreement among the four candidates, all of whom sounded conservative themes during the half-hour that was taped for rebroadcast May 29 at 8:30 p.m. on KBDI-Channel 12.

Businessman Wil Armstrong, Secretary of State Mike Coffman, state Sen. Ted Harvey and state Sen. Steve Ward agreed on not raising taxes, not making a hasty exit from Iraq and not using government subsidies for corn-based ethanol. And they voiced their admiration for Tom Tancredo, the congressman they hope to succeed.

But during the second half of the taping - not for the TV show but for the Web site of Caldara's Independence Institute - one major split occurred during a discussion on energy policy.

Ward called for a push to find a viable alternative to imported foreign oil, saying what is needed is something comparable to the Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb or the effort to put a man on the moon.

He thus split from his opponents, all of whom spoke of entrepreneurs and a free-market approach to finding solutions to rising prices at the gas pump.

"We are currently subsidizing a failed national energy policy," Ward said. "I disagree. This is something the government can work to solve."

Harvey said what sets him apart is his background in environmental public policy, an area that would make him the best choice to counter what he described as "radical environmentalists."

Armstrong, chief executive officer of a software development and consulting firm, tried to distinguish himself from the others by casting himself as the only candidate who was not a "career politician."

That drew rebuttals from all three of his opponents, citing their experience as businessmen. Coffman and Ward also cited their experience as Marines who served in Iraq.

The two said their military service had helped shape their views on what ought to be done in Iraq.

When asked if there was anything they had done that they now regret, Coffman's opponents half-jokingly cited their support of him for the secretary of state job.

They want to avoid allowing Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter to fill that post if Coffman wins the November election.

Armstrong teased Coffman, claiming chairmanship of the "Keep Mike Coffman as Secretary of State Committee." Coffman countered that he has the support of five former GOP chairmen. The current chair, Dick Wadhams, however, had urged him not to run.

When asked who would be their second choice for the congressional seat, Harvey and Ward said Coffman. Coffman said Ward. Harvey refused to say, praising all three foes.

ensslinj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5291