Face The State Staff Report
For the first time since being term-limited from Colorado's highest political office in 2006, former Gov. Bill Owens has come out to actively support a candidate, telling reporters in a conference call this morning that he thinks Republican Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain can win Colorado, and that he plans to take an active role in this year's presidential race.
OwensState of Colo.
“Colorado is a center-right state, and I think that is exactly where John McCain is,” said Owens, who cited McCain’s tax policy and national defense strategy as evidence of his appeal to the state's voters.
Over the last few decades, Colorado has been a battleground state in presidential races – in 1992, going blue for Bill Clinton after convincing voters that he was a fiscal moderate, but favoring George W. Bush's "compassionate conservatism" in 2000 and 2004.
Owens criticized Democrat Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama’s lack of experience, pointing out that this time four years ago he was an Illinois state Senator. He also attacked Obama’s willingness to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad without setting any pre-conditions.
Obama is in Colorado today for a fundraiser and to tour Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts in Thornton. This campaign stop overlaps with a visit from Bush, who is in Colorado to deliver the commencement speech at the Air Force Academy.
Comparing Obama to former Pres. Jimmy Carter, Owens said the “presidency is not a good place for on the job training.” According to Owens, McCain is up for the challenge of overcoming Bush’s plummeting popularity.
After taking time off from public life, Owens said that he is back and intends to speak out at every opportunity and do everything he can to elect McCain as President.
“I loved the 8 years I spent as Governor," said Owens. "I especially love not being Governor."