For those keeping score, Walker Stapleton and Jared Polis are tied 4-4 for major newspaper endorsements.
Predictably, Polis scored the Boulder Camera, Aurora Sentinel, and The Coloradoan endorsements, along with the Denver Post, which is now more liberal than ever without Chuck Plunkett at the help of the editorial board.
Not so predictably, Stapleton won endorsements from The Durango Herald and Pueblo Chieftain, as well as the Colorado Springs Gazette, who all had similar problems with Polis as governor.
They agreed Polis is a big talker, but he’s unable to back up his shiny ideas with pesky facts, like how he could do what he’s promising and how to pay for it.
The Greeley Tribune delivered their endorsement of Stapleton on Sunday, pointing out the state treasurer’s well thought-out plans that make fiscal sense to “put the state on a sustainable path that will allow it to retain its excellent quality of life without breaking the bank.”
The Tribune didn’t explain why they passed over Polis. Actually, the editorial never even mentioned his name. Rather, the editorial board focused more on their own advice to Stapleton as to how he should govern when elected.
We like their spirit.
The Coloradoan was willing to give Polis the benefit of the doubt that he could get his big ideas passed with big spending because he’s wiling to work with Republicans to get more taxpayer money and spend it.
Right?! We busted a gut laughing over that one.
It’s not worth explaining why Polis’s hometown newspaper endorsed him — he’s a Boulder liberal, that’s all they care about.
Same goes for Aurora.
The Denver Post delivered their support to Polis because he has visions with the “gumption” to get those dreamy ideas accomplished — somewhere in an alternative universe, we suspect.
He’s also made Colorado education great, and if elected, will make Colorado education great, so that’s great, the editorial declared without a hint of irony.
Newspaper endorsements have become so predictable — the liberal editorial boards back Democrats and Conservative boards back Republicans.
But what’s notably different in this election is the endorsement from Democrat-central Pueblo Chieftain, and the Durango Herald — a paper we would not tag as conservative.
The Durango Herald gives a refreshingly rational explanation of Stapleton’s views on immigration, energy and civil rights. Then sums up their opposition to multi-millionaire Polis in fairly simple terms: “But we would like to think our votes are not for sale – and neither is Colorado.”
The Pueblo Chieftain says their endorsement was a clear choice — Polis is making a lot of promises upon which he can’t deliver, while Stapleton is making fewer promises, but with realistic methods of delivery.
A stark difference indeed — Polis is willing to say anything to get elected, while Stapleton is making fewer promises while explaining to voters before the election how he will actually govern.