Another Republican has joined the field of candidates seeking to challenge Democratic Senator Mark Udall in 2014.
Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck narrowly lost a senate bid three years ago to Democrat Michael Bennet.
Buck joins state Senators Randy Baumgardner (R-Hot Sulphur Springs) and Owen Hill (R-Colorado Springs) -- who declared their intentions to run in early July. Neither are that well known compared to Buck, who鈥檚 been down this road before.
Interview Highlights鈥�
How does Buck鈥檚 entrance into this race change things for the GOP?
鈥淚t brings an established candidate into the race. He comes in with more experience with having campaigned and a lot of people think he鈥檚 a good candidate to back, but not for sure if he鈥檒l avoid a primary in this race.鈥�
Why have Republicans been quiet so far about Buck鈥檚 plans on running?
鈥淔irst of all, I don鈥檛 think you鈥檒l see the state Republican party really responding until there鈥檚 a nominee. Buck says he鈥檚 filed his paperwork but won鈥檛 be officially announcing until September when he鈥檒l be making a statewide tour. But he鈥檚 a vetted candidate 鈥� that鈥檚 also something that could work against him. He made several gaffes in his campaign and there are a lot of people who aren鈥檛 forgetting it and who want to make that sure people are reminded. There are a litany, actually, of mistakes he made and comments such as he thought being gay is a choice and is like alcoholism. It鈥檚 something that got him into a little bit of hot water. And he鈥檚 had some other statements that he鈥檚 made that he had to withdraw or explain away.鈥�
Buck won鈥檛 officially declare his candidacy until September. Who else might join the race between now and then?
鈥淎 lot of Republicans quietly will tell you that Udall looks fairly safe. So I鈥檓 not sure that there鈥檚 going to be a whole lot of new Republicans getting into the race to challenge him at this point. But don鈥檛 forget that we鈥檝e got another U.S. Senate race down the road when Michael Bennet faces reelection. And I think there are a lot of people lining up, like I said, quietly as a possible candidate in that race.鈥�
Jody Hope Strogoff is the publisher of the .
