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Ken Buck - Candidate for U.S. Senate

Saying “I haven’t seen anything like what’s happening in Colorado since Marco Rubio in Florida,” Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., on Wednesday endorsed Ken Buck for the U.S. Senate.

DeMint, chairman of the Senate Conservatives Fund, called Ken “a great candidate who’s going to embrace the grassroots activism” that is rising up across the country. “Ken has the character and integrity to stand up for the principles of freedom in America,” DeMint said. “He can be one of the stars in the Senate.”

Colorado prosecutor Ken Buck is running to unseat Democratic Senator Michael Bennett. Buck’s main opponent is former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton (R), who outraised Buck significantly in the last quarter of 2009.

Conservative Senator Jim Demint (R) of South Carolina announced his endorsement of Buck today during a conference call with reporters and bloggers.

“I saw the same thing with Marco Rubio, a person willing to get into a David and Goliath fight because he believes in the principals.” Said Senator Demint.

Demint has become a kingmaker in the conservative movement and his Senate Conservatives Fund has given money to a number of races this year. The biggest influence has been in Florida where DeMint was an early backer of the former Speaker of the Florida House, Marco Rubio.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist was the prohibitive favorite for the GOP Senatorial nomination in Florida last summer, earning the early endorsement of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Rubio has since caught and passed Crist in the polls, fueled in part by DeMint’s early endorsement and Tea Party support.

Buck can use any help he can get when it comes to fundraising, his campaign hasn’t released first quarter 2010 fundraising totals yet but only raised about $40,000 in the final quarter of 2009. On the other hand Buck’s Republican opponent Jane Norton reported $816,000 in the first quarter.

Via Campaign Website

Jane Norton - Candidate for U.S. Senate

(CENTENNIAL) –In the wake of a decision by appointed Senator Michael Bennet to begin gathering petitions to secure his place on the Democrat primary ballot, US Senate candidate Jane Norton will turn her focus to meeting with party activists and disaffected voters from across the political spectrum as her campaign begins a grassroots petition drive.

“Every election is different, and this one is certainly different.  We’re living in unique, historical times.  Business as usual will not do as a way to conduct this campaign. This election for me has always been about focusing on the issues and unseating Michael Bennet,” commented Norton. “After much careful deliberation, I have decided we cannot afford to give the appointed Senator a two-month head start.  Our freedom is under attack, and that is why I need to take the fight as soon as possible to the Democrats, Michael Bennet, and Barack Obama to take back Colorado’s senate seat for the people of Colorado and help take back our government for the American people.

“This is not a decision I have made lightly. I have participated in our precinct and convention process my whole life, and I remain respectful of these institutions. I admire the enthusiasm of the many party leaders who devote their efforts to promoting participation, including the 9,622 grassroots Republicans who honored me with their support in the caucus straw poll. The convention remains a vital part of Colorado’s political process, but the next six weeks are far too important to spend campaigning solely to a small bloc of voters.

“So I will begin campaigning full-time for the primary today. I am blessed with a strong grassroots campaign organization in all 64 Colorado counties, and we will use that network to collect petition signatures, recruit new volunteers, expand our organization, and continue to bring our message of limited government to all corners of the state.

“The appointed Senator’s decision to gather petitions will give him an opportunity to campaign on a broad public stage over the next six weeks, and that’s an advantage I will not cede to him. I will spend the next six weeks campaigning on the issues to the several hundred thousand Coloradans who will vote in the Republican primary, not to mention thousands of other unaffiliated and Democrat voters who are sick and tired of business as usual in Washington.

“I’m Jane Norton, the daughter of a Marine who fought in one of the toughest battles of World War II.  I learned from him that freedom is worth fighting for. I cannot wait another day while the special interests in Washington and mysterious donors attack me with millions of dollars flooding Colorado’s airwaves. We have to stand up and begin the fight now to take Colorado’s senate seat back from Washington insiders and lifelong public office holders.

“I can’t wait to mix it up with Harry Reid and the Good Ol’ Boys in Washington. And I can’t wait to engage in the primary contest. But the primary is a means to an end, and the ultimate end is to beat Michael Bennet and restore common sense, responsible fiscal leadership, and conservative values to the Senate. And that’s exactly what we will do.”