(CNN) - Republican Colorado Senate candidate Jane Norton is seizing on opponent Ken Buck's now-infamous "high heels comment," launching a new ad Friday saying Buck's off-color remark shows "he'd fit right in" to the culture of Washington.
The ad – which was previewed by the campaign on YouTube Thursday - was quickly cut after a video surfaced showing Buck telling voters they should support him "because I do not wear high heels."
The comment, clearly made in jest, drew roaring laughter from the crowd though was quickly criticized by Democrats and Norton supporters as being inappropriate. But a spokesman for Buck says the gender issue is one Norton herself has repeatedly raised.
"The Norton campaign wants gender politics to be an issue in this campaign. They are the ones who have talked about it," spokesman Owen Loftus said.
The Norton campaign tells CNN the new ad will run a week to 10 days on broadcast and cable in Colorado media markets.
Norton, the state's former lieutenant governor, 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 a string of recent polls by single digits.
The winner of that contest will face 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.
–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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"The Norton campaign wants gender politics to be an issue in this campaign. They are the ones who have talked about it," spokesman Owen Loftus said
So Ken Buck is a follower....and not a leader....
get a life... this is pathedic...
Now lets see if Sarah and the other Republican birdbrains come to his defense.
Why does this surprise anyone what this guy says? He is the same one who "caved" and echoed the nut-case Tom Tancredo's comments that Obama is more dangerous to the USA than Hitler was to Germany. The repub party has become a cess pool of right wing nuts. When will they come to their senses? Oh, I forgot. They don't care to because it is much easier to use fear to get the cattle to follow you.
They're both idiots. Wasting money on this trivial crap while the whole state is in trouble says neither is qualified.
VOTE NO to the party of NO for City, County, State, and National positions. THEY'RE CORPORATE-LOVING IDIOTS.
Usually when they make such a big deal of things it is to make-up for something. Maybe he does wear high-heals in the privacy of his home. But honestly foot-ware is not a reason to vote or not vote for someone. It would be hard for me to vote for someone who thought it was.
Buck is going to win this one easy.
I see that Norton seems to be another one of those strong Republican women GOPers want to shine in the national arena.
Too bad republican woman are a good 30 years behind times in confronting gender issues. Palin, Fiorina, Haley, Angle, and Brewer come to mind.
Too many distractions coming from the right to cover up too few solutions being offered by the right.
I wonder why.
No, he doesn't wear high heels — he prefers to call them "pumps."
so easy to dish-out... but just can't seem to take it.....
why does the "debate" from the GOP and Republicans sound like a bunch of high school cheerleaders and jocks running for student council? does the GOP ever discuss the issues and offer solution anymore? or is it now just dribbled down to sound bites and juvenile slings at each other.
Few things are more gratifying to a non-Fox News fan than sitting back and watching candidates like these exsartaginate. (ex: out of; sartago: frying pan)
I think if women whats to get into politics they need to learn to play with the big boys. If a man say one little thing about their high-heels, then they're talking down to a woman. The woman always use that card just to get votes. I'm a woman and I know!
What he meant to say was "I don't wear high heels.....during working hours"
:-p
One republican candidates makes snarky comments about her opponents "hair" ... so 6th grade bathroom level ... and now "high heels" – do republicans ever talk issues?
It is just a few months before the November elections. When John Boehner was asked what the Republican agenda would be if they won election, the tanned man smugly replied, “TBD" = “To be determined!”
Guess not ... not even "to be disclosed" .... the GOP hasn't even decided what its policies are!