Washington (CNN) -- The Denver Post Editorial Board endorsed Republican House Rep. Cory Gardner on Friday, just six years after it backed Gardner's opponent Democratic Sen. Mark Udall for the position. "Congress is hardly functioning these days. It can't pass legislation that is controversial and it often can't even pass legislation on which there is broad agreement. Its reputation is abysmal, and even its members rarely dispute the popular indictment," the editorial board said in a statement. "It needs fresh leadership, energy and ideas, and Cory Gardner can help provide them in the U.S. Senate." The surprising decision could give Gardner the significant edge he needs to pull ahead of Udall in the closely contested race. Just last week, a CBS/New York Times poll found Gardner six percentage points ahead of Udall. Real Clear Politics rules the race a "toss up."
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Denver Post announced its endorsement for Rep. Cory Gardner
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Says Congress is in "need of fresh leadership, energy and ideas"
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Mentions that Sen. Mark Udall "is not perceived as a leader in Washington"
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The race is contested and currently rated as a tossup by many pollsters
Yet the @placeholder went defensive against Gardner's conservative opinions on same-sex marriage and abortion rights.
Yet the Denver Post went defensive against @placeholder's conservative opinions on same-sex marriage and abortion rights.