Chamber comes to Norton’s aid

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce backed former Colorado Lt. Gov. Jane Norton’s campaign for Senate Monday, giving the flagging establishment favorite a potentially valuable endorsement as she faces down a primary challenge from insurgent conservative Ken Buck.

Citing Norton’s work on health care and economic development issues under Gov. Bill Owens, Chamber of Commerce president Tom Donohue called her a fierce advocate for “attacking spending and empowering job creators.”

Pressed by reporters on a conference call, Donohue acknowledged that the Chamber picked Norton as its preferred candidate against Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet largely due to questions of electability.

“What we’re looking for is a horse – excuse me Jane – that can run in the big race. There are a lot of good people,” he said. “What we’re doing is saying, who has the best chance of winning?” he said.

An automated SurveyUSA poll released last week showed Norton trailing Buck, the Weld County district attorney, by double digits in the GOP nomination fight. Donohue dismissed the impact of that poll in the group’s decision-making.” FULL STORY