Allard Campaign Worker Arrested At Strickland Rally (Colorado Senate Race)

Rocky Mountain News ^ | 10.27.02 | Robert Weller AP

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A campaign worker for Republican Sen. Wayne Allard has been arrested in Boulder for allegedly trying to disrupt a rally in support of Democratic challenger Tom Strickland.

Matt Dempsey was arrested Saturday moments before the beginning of a Strickland rally featuring actor Robert Redford, Boulder police said. He was released Saturday night after posting a $500 bond.

Dempsey denied the charges in a statement released Sunday by the Allard campaign.

Boulder police Sgt. Robert Thomas, quoting a police report, said Dempsey and a group of Allard supporters told police they planned to walk through the rally area. Officers told them they could do so as long as they remained peaceful. He said the police report stated that it appeared the Allard supporters were endangering a group of young gymnasts doing a demonstration.

Officer Tony Guzman told Dempsey that he was going to give him a ticket and a summons. Dempsey reportedly tried to walk away and was arrested on charges of disrupting an assembly and resisting arrest, Thomas said.

The arrest occurred before Strickland and Redford appeared on the rally stage.

Allard campaign manager Dick Wadhams said Allard supporters at the rally were warned by police that if they said anything to Strickland they would be arrested. He said the campaign supported Dempsey. "These are preposterous charges," he said. "It is clear that in the city of Boulder free speech only applies when it is from the left wing."

Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner said, "This is a ridiculous allegation. We have protected the First Amendment rights of a lot of diverse groups in Boulder and we are quite good at it. That includes groups from both ends of the political spectrum."

Strickland campaign manager Brian Hardwick said Allard should fire Dempsey. "In the final days of the campaign they best thing they can do is attend a positive rally and try to disrupt it. The senator ought to try to get control of his campaign," he said.

Polls in recent weeks shows the Nov. 5 race is too close to call. One poll last week showed Allard with 41 percent and Strickland 38. A second poll said Strickland had 39 and Allard 38. Both were within the margin of error of 4.4. percentage points.

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Be Careful Out There!

[Vladiator]

What a knucklehead.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner said, "This is a ridiculous allegation.

"Watch out or we will put your name in the secret files like Denver"

[Righty1]

Diversity includes everyone except white male conservatives!

[ffrancone]

IT'S 9 DAYS 'TIL THE ELECTION

GOOD INTENTIONS DON'T WIN ELECTIONS.

YOU CAN HELP, TODAY. GO TO:

TakeBackCongress.org

A resource for conservatives who want a Republican majority in the Senate

[LiberalBuster]

>>A resource for conservatives who want a Republican
>>majority in the Senate

Speak for yourself. The current crop of Republicans are hardly conservative ... in the traditional sense. Unless you believe in doubling the Dept. of Education budget ... imposing steel tariffs ... and re-invigorating farmer welfare, I'd say the majority of Republicans running for office are unworthy of conservative votes.

[AntiDemocrat]

Strickland is a putz!

[ffrancone]

Allard is a solid small government conservative. He is a great treasure in the Senate and deserves our support.

[Myrean]

Only in the People's Republic of Boulder!

Vote Allard!!!

[Tall_Texan]

We have protected the First Amendment rights of a lot of diverse groups in Boulder and we are quite good at it. That includes groups from both ends of the political spectrum."

"...everything from the left to the far left."

[Vis Numar]

Matt Dempsey sounds like he screwed up. The Allard campaign looks like it's making a big mistake-- this is the cops dumbies, not campaign advertising arguments. Then again, it's Boulder, and Allards whole campaign has been against Boulder, so maybe that's the angle.

[coloradan]

a group of young gymnasts doing a demonstration

... of how every single person will be made better off with increased government services and entitlements and programs, without increasing taxes or jeopardizing social securty, unless Allard is elected.

[Pat Bateman]

It's illegal to be a Republican in Boulder. It's also illegal to exercise one's First Amendment Right outside of designated First Amendment Areas in Colorado.

[LiberalBuster]

You completely missed the point. Pro-gunners in Maryland thought they had the edge (over anti-gunners). But, in reality nothing can be concluded from the sniper attacks. The deaths in Virginia (like Maryland) were completely independent of right-to-carray laws. Pro-Second Amendment individuals should be careful about promoting CC when it (at the very least) had zero impact on the sniper shootings. I'm not saying CC is not effectual in deterring crime. I'm just saying, in this case, it had no effect.