17 Days to Decide: CO Senate Race is a "Toss Up"

The race between Colorado Senator Michael Bennet (D) and Republican challenger Ken Buck has been classified as a "toss up" by leading political handicappers Real Clear Politics and the Cook Political Report. With just over 2 weeks until election day, both candidates are making the most of the time they have left between now and November 2nd. On Friday, both candidates participated in a debate co-moderated by ABC's Jake Tapper, during which Senator Bennet accused Buck of flip-flopping on a variety of issues, saying he has "a lot of sympathy for fact checkers trying to figure out what his record is."

Appearing today on Fox News, Buck fired back, classifying Bennet as a "rubber stamp for President Obama's agenda, who voted for the health care bill, auto bailouts and the stimulus." Bennet was appointed by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter to fill the seat vacated by then-Senator Ken Salazar when he was confirmed as Interior Secretary last year.

When pressed about previous statements in which he dismissed the need for the Department of Education, Buck backpedaled, saying he was "not opposed" and that the department "has a legitimate function" in government, although Buck would like to see more education decisions made at local levels.

The 2 candidates will face off again tomorrow in another televised debate. Given the close state of the race, Buck says it will come down to the most pressing hardships Americans are currently facing, including jobs and the fragile economy, and which candidate they think will be more adept at dealing with these issues.

An invitation to Senator Bennet to appear on Fox was declined by his campaign.

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