Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff "remains a central figure" in the race, with Rep. Mark Udall (D-02) 4/17 "charging" '04 candidate/CO Bd. of Ed. member/ex-Rep. Bob Schaffer (R) "with taking campaign donations from Abramoff cronies."
Schaffer mgr. Dick Wadhams: "There's only one candidate in the Colorado Senate race who has accepted money from Jack Abramoff, and that is Boulder liberal Mark Udall." Udall's camp says otherwise, "noting that Schaffer got about" $33K for his congressional campaigns from groups or PACs "directed and influenced" by the lobbyist. For example, Schaffer received almost $5K from ex-Rep. Tom Delay's (R-TX) PAC, to which Abramoff donated $26K.
Udall spokesperson Taylor West: "Bob Schaffer took Abramoff's money, went on Abramoff's junket and dedicated himself to Abramoff's game plan, propping up a corrupt system of sweatshops and forced abortions, and flat-out attacking the good people trying to change that system" (Bartels, Rocky Mountain News, 4/18).
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