Colorado Senate candidate Ken Buck has picked up another key endorsement from the conservative wing of the Republican party, this time winning the support of FreedomWorks PAC. FreedomWorks, which is chaired by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, has provided much of the organizational support and funding for the national Tea Party movement.
In a press release, FreedomWorks referenced Buck's opposition to Colorado's Referendum C in 2005, which temporarily suspended certain spending limitations built into the state's constitution, as reason for supporting his Senatorial bid:
FreedomWorks PAC is pleased to announce its addition of conservative Ken Buck, candidate in the Colorado senatorial election, to the Take America Back in 2010 campaign leading up to November. Buck earned the "Champion of Freedom" endorsement for his strong commitment to a limited government, fiscally responsible agenda.Since 2004, Ken Buck has served the public as the Weld County District Attorney. He has witnessed firsthand the stagnant and ineffective nature of government when it overreaches the boundaries set by the Constitution.
Unlike his opponent, Jane Norton, Buck believes that Congressional spending and federal deficit growth are out of control. Norton was a supporter of the infamous Referendum C in 2005, which suspended Colorado's state spending limits for five years and spent $3.7 billion of taxpayer refund money, marking it the biggest tax increase in the state's history.
CNN, which calls FreedomWork PAC's endorsement "helpful" for Buck, reports that the organization will help the candidate with get-out-the-vote efforts and other grassroots initiatives.
Buck, a little-known District Attorney from rural Weld County, has stunned the political establishment by shooting ahead in recent polls. Buck's ascent as the front-runner for the Republican nomination has been greatly aided by the support of grassroots conservatives and right-wing independent groups.
The Republican and Democratic parties will select their nominees in primaries on August 10.