Post by SoulTrainOz on Jul 3, 2006 19:44:11 GMT -5
The Trailhead Group once again is attacking Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Bill Ritter.
The group released a radio ad Friday that suggests Ritter is soft on crime because, during his years as Denver district attorney, he plea-bargained 97% of his cases.
Ritter's campaign says the ad is a distortion of the facts and that Ritter was a tough prosecutor.
"Ritter even plea-bargained with murderers and convicted sex offenders," the ad says. "He supported legislation to reduce prison sentences for serious drug abusers - and failed to enforce the death penalty for capital crimes."
Ritter's spokesman, Evan Dreyer, said the tactic of attacking Ritter's record did not come as a surprise.
"They're barking up the wrong tree," Dreyer said.
"Bill's record as district attorney is rock solid, and we'll go toe-to-toe with them any day of the week."
According to Dreyer, Ritter sent more than 12,000 criminals to jail,
almost twice as many as district attorneys from other large counties in Colorado.
Ritter called for his Republican opponent Bob Beauprez to denounce the ad.
John Marshall, Beauprez's campaign manager, said the campaign can't control outside groups like Trailhead, a GOP political organization formed to attack Democratic candidates. Marshall countered that Ritter should denounce a Web site by the New West Fellowship, a group similar to Trailhead that is attacking Beauprez.
Trailhead's ad, which is running statewide, is the largest ad the group has run attacking Ritter to date.
The group has previously attacked Ritter's stance on illegal immigration.
(source: Rocky Mountain News)
The group released a radio ad Friday that suggests Ritter is soft on crime because, during his years as Denver district attorney, he plea-bargained 97% of his cases.
Ritter's campaign says the ad is a distortion of the facts and that Ritter was a tough prosecutor.
"Ritter even plea-bargained with murderers and convicted sex offenders," the ad says. "He supported legislation to reduce prison sentences for serious drug abusers - and failed to enforce the death penalty for capital crimes."
Ritter's spokesman, Evan Dreyer, said the tactic of attacking Ritter's record did not come as a surprise.
"They're barking up the wrong tree," Dreyer said.
"Bill's record as district attorney is rock solid, and we'll go toe-to-toe with them any day of the week."
According to Dreyer, Ritter sent more than 12,000 criminals to jail,
almost twice as many as district attorneys from other large counties in Colorado.
Ritter called for his Republican opponent Bob Beauprez to denounce the ad.
John Marshall, Beauprez's campaign manager, said the campaign can't control outside groups like Trailhead, a GOP political organization formed to attack Democratic candidates. Marshall countered that Ritter should denounce a Web site by the New West Fellowship, a group similar to Trailhead that is attacking Beauprez.
Trailhead's ad, which is running statewide, is the largest ad the group has run attacking Ritter to date.
The group has previously attacked Ritter's stance on illegal immigration.
(source: Rocky Mountain News)