August 04, 2006 06:43 PM UTC

Mark Larson Backs Ritter

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• by: Colorado Pols

From the Durango Herald:

Mud flew in the Colorado Republican Party on Thursday as state Rep. Mark Larson, R-Cortez, endorsed the Democratic candidate for governor. Larson’s endorsement of Bill Ritter against Republican candidate Bob Beauprez marks the maverick legislator’s latest break from the GOP.

“I’ve looked at the candidates,” Larson said, “and I’ve looked at what they represent and tried to match that against where the majority of Coloradans are and what’s good for the state. And I came up with Bill Ritter.”

Some of Larson’s fellow Republicans immediately went on the attack.

“It’s obvious that Mark Larson is shamelessly pandering for a job with the Democrats,” said Shannon Richardson, La Plata County Republican Party chairwoman. “He has created a lame-duck situation for himself with the Republican Party and is now out of work and looking for a job.”

Larson probably isn’t too concerned about Republicans attacking him; after all, Republican infighting was the primary reason he didn’t run for state Senate.