October 26, 2010 05:32 PM UTC

New Cary Kennedy TV Spot Slams Stapleton over Hit-and-Run

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• by: Colorado Pols

That’s the latest ad on the air in the Colorado Treasurer’s race, from incumbent Cary Kennedy attacking opponent Walker Stapleton over his belated disclosure of a DUI accident Stapleton was involved in–an accident that drew an initial hit-and-run charge for Stapleton, and that court records indicate caused bodily injury to two victims. From Kennedy’s release:

“This ad calls into question the ethical choices Walker Stapleton has made,” said campaign manager Serena Woods.  “Coloradans need to be able to trust that the State Treasurer is honest and accountable.  When it comes to Stapleton’s criminal background, he has not been forthcoming.”

Walker Stapleton has made false statements in other circumstances during this campaign. Just last week, The Denver Post and 9News each determined that a statement he personally made directly to voters in his campaign ad is “false.” While the Kennedy campaign has repeatedly asked Stapleton to pull the ad, he has cynically refused.

This ad from Kennedy, on the other hand, is both not false, and more damaging than Stapleton’s. This could be turning into another race, much like the Senate race this year, where the winner of the GOP primary emerges as the less electable candidate. Stapleton’s primary opponent, J.J. Ament, was a solid candidate with good name recognition and party support, who simply couldn’t keep up with the out-of-state (and personal) money Stapleton was willing to lavish on this race.

Unfortunately for Stapleton, all the money in the world can’t make court records go away.