(CNN) – Ken Buck, a Republican Senate candidate in Colorado, is causing a stir after recent comments asking voters for support "because I do not wear high heels."
The off-color remark that drew roaring laughter at a recent campaign event, came in response to an ad campaign from his GOP opponent in the primary race, former Lieutenant Gov. Jane Norton. In the ads, Norton says Buck is not "man enough" to attack her in person but instead lets third-party groups do it.
"She has questioned my manhood; I think it's fair to respond," says Buck to more laughter from the crowd. "I have cowboy boots on. They have real bull- on 'em. That's Weld County bull-, not Washington D.C. bull-."
Video of the remark was posted by an anonymous user on YouTube, and the Norton campaign has now released a new ad highlighting the remark.
A spokesman for Buck blames Norton for injecting the gender issue into the campaign.
"The Norton campaign wants gender politics to be an issue in this campaign. They are the ones who have talked about it. Last week, she even put up a television ad in which she says, "you would think Ken would be man enough to do it himself," spokesman Owen Lofthus said in an e-mail to reporter.
"The fact is, gender has nothing to do with Norton's drop in the polls or Ken's Buck's rise, no matter how hard the Norton campaign try to use personal attacks on Ken Buck to shift the campaign away from the issues," Lofthus also said.
Meanwhile Norton spokeswoman Cinamon Watson told the Grand Junction Sentinel that Buck "is going to have to use all of his best lawyer-speak to explain this really stupid statement."
Norton enjoys the backing from national Republicans and has a clear money advantage over Buck. But Buck, the Weld Country District Attorney, has enjoyed strong support from the Tea Party movement and leads Norton in several recent polls by single digits.
The winner of that contest will race the victor of the Democratic battle between incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet and former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff this November.
Both party's primaries will be held on August 10.
From CNN Politics
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I am not a T-partier or Republican Left winger...but maybe I should be. This is typical CNN / Dem / Lib slant. A local race seems to need national attention via a bullet point (ie your website). Time & time again your editors have chosen to post pro-Dem stories. I'm not a conspiricy theororist but your starting to make me into on.
Well no wonder he doesn't wear heels ... his feet are bigger than his mouth.
He could use a nice training bra though.
"because I do not wear high heels."
hhmmmm ok but how about in private? ;op
Who are any of these idiots? What reform-school graduate programs are the GOP raiding to find their primary candidates these days?
Hey, if Jane Norton can spew out sexism remarks..i say all is fair in him responding in the same fashion! otherwise she can put a muzzle on it if she dares to cry wolf!
Another idiot seeking office!
if a Democrat said this about one of these redneck republicans, all hell would break loose on the right! these right wing candidates are a bunch of wackos
There's Buck and the Tea Party group with their BS running. Can't give you the truth, but they sure throw the slams.
You got my vote Buck.
Is everyone in the Republican party this stupid or are there any intelligent GOPers out there?
Pretty harmless by the sound of it; let's not get our panties in a bunch about it.
Another republican moron!!!
Gotta love women. They can dish it out but certainly can't take it.
Oh for god's sake, is this the level of political discourse that we have been dumbed down to in this country? We see it on both sides of the aisle although CNN is much more proficient at reporting negatives on the GOP side.
For CNN to get all indignant about comments made in reference to a female candidate is a little disingeniuous, with all the venom and off color reporting that Palin has been subjected to and even Hilliary when she dared to contest the nomination versus the media god Obama.
This is the end result of the god of political correctness that is slowly killing the country.
We need for the media to pay better attention to the real issues facing us as a country, not high heels. Goodness
God, don't let anyone question your MAAAANLINESS. Feeling a little insecure there, Ken? Real men don't have to wear cowboy boots, and walk like John Wayne, and spit, and cuss, and drink whiskey, and carry a BIG gun, and scratch their privates to prove their manliness. This is what young boys do to feel like men. Sad that this is what this country thinks of as manly. You be bad, Kenny (can I call you Kenny?).
"I have cowboy boots on. They have real bull- on 'em. That's Weld County bull-, not Washington D.C. bull-."
I like him so far