Attack Ad Featuring Gov. Hickenlooper Sparks Debate In Denver Mayoral Race
DENVER (CBS4)- An attack ad that features Gov. John Hickenlooper has sparked a heated debate in the Denver mayoral race. That ad is no longer on the air.
The question remains whether Hickenlooper had anything to do with it being pulled. Michael Hancock, the candidate under attack in the ad, said Hickenlooper absolutely did.
The ad blasts Hancock for voting to raise the pay of city workers in 2007. It features a picture of Hickenlooper calling the decision "irresponsible."
Hickenlooper made positive campaigning his brand in the gubernatorial race. 
Hancock said the governor called Romer and asked him to take the ad off the air. Romer told CBS4 Political Specialist Shaun Boyd that is not true.
When asked if the governor called him, Romer replied, "I've had a number of conversations with John. He and I spoke about the campaign and I explained our strategy, pointing out issues in the race."
When asked if the governor asked Romer to take him out of the ad, Romer replied, "No, no. We completed the ad and we moved on."
When Boyd asked Hickenlooper if he called Romer, the governor replied, "Certainly it's no secret I'm not a fan of negative ads, but when I have a conversation with people, if I start going over every conversation what I did say and didn't say, it would open up a huge can of worms. So my private conversations are my private conversations."
Watch CBS4′s Mayoral Debate, Saturday At 6 p.m.
Watch an hour-long debate between candidates Michael Hancock and Chris Romer on Saturday, May 21. The debate is a joint production between CBS4 and Colorado Public Television. Political Specialist Shaun Boyd will moderate the debate along with political analyst Eric Sondermann. CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass will also pose questions to the candidates about issues with the Denver Police Department. Shepard Nevel of the Colorado Health Foundation will also take part in the debate.
