BREAKING: Polis Heading to Iraq on Humanitarian Mission

Colorado’s CD-2 congressional candidate Jared Polis announced this morning that he will travel to Iraq on Monday as a member of a humanitarian mission organized by United Way. While in Iraq, Polis will live blog his experience at Colorado Confidential on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 12 p.m. MST. Polis, a philanthropist and founder of several educational charities and charter schools for disadvantaged youth, was invited to accompany experts in nonprofit and humanitarian relief organizations to assist Iraqi redevelopment groups.

In a prepared statement, Polis said:

“The war in Iraq is the most important issue facing Americans and the Congress. I am traveling to Iraq over the Thanksgiving Holiday to let the soldiers know how appreciative Coloradans are for their brave service. I hope my trip with also provide the people of Colorado with a clear understanding of what is happening in Iraq and the situations we are facing there.”

As reported by Colorado Confidential’s Dan Whipple in September, the intensity of opinion on the Iraq War promises to be a huge factor for voters in Colorado’s historically liberal second congressional district which encompasses Boulder and its exurbs, mountain communities, and a sliver of the rural plains.

Polis and his fellow democratic primary challengers, former Colorado State Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald (who resigned her seat on Nov. 14) and environmentalist Will Shafroth, have each expressed strong opposition to the war. No Republican candidate has announced a bid to run.

Colorado’s second congressional district has been held by a democrat since 1969. Therefore, the winner of the 2008 primary election is a shoe-in to succeed Rep. Mark Udall who is running for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by the retiring Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Loveland).

Read Colorado Confidential’s coverage of the CD-2 race here.

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