DENVER — It is official: State Treasurer Walker Stapleton — after months of speculation — has announced he is running for governor.
On Monday, he sat down for his first TV interview.
Stapleton was eager to attack Democratic Congressman Jared Polis, who is perceived to be the Democratic front-runner.
Stapleton by many is considered to be the Republican front-runner because of his access to key donors in the state.
Stapleton said Polis is “literally running to kill the oil and gas industry in Colorado.”
Polis’ communications director, Mara Sheldon, responded. “Jared’s fight is about standing up for Colorado communities. If Super Pac Stapleton doesn’t believe families should have a say in what goes on in their own backyards, he shouldn’t be running for governor of Colorado.”
When asked if was grass roots enough with the way politics is now in the U.S., Stapleton said, “The answer is absolutely. I am the only guy in this race who has traveled to all of Colorado’s 64 counties.”
“I’m proud of my experience,” he said. “I am the longest-serving statewide elected Republican in Colorado for a reason.”
One big question will be if Stapleton calls upon his cousins — former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush — to campaign for him.
“I would describe myself as a Walker Stapleton Republican,” Stapleton said. “I am proud of my family’s record of public service, but the voters of Colorado are going to judge me on my record.”