An October 6 Pueblo Chieftain article by Denver bureau reporter Charles Ashby reported that state Sen. Lewis Entz (R-Hooper) is “still bemoaning Democrat U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar's endorsement last month of fellow party member Gail Schwartz” for Colorado's Senate District 5 election but added that Entz “did wrangle a 'positive statement' from his longtime friend [Salazar].” Ashby's article stated that Entz and Salazar have broken with their own parties in the past to endorse one another, noting Entz endorsed Salazar for attorney general in 1998 and 2002 and Salazar backed “Entz over his Democratic rival, Rafael Gallegos,” in 2002.

However, despite the fact that a September 19 Chieftain article by Ashby reported that Entz “backed Republican Pete Coors against Salazar in the 2004 senatorial race,” the October 6 article made no mention of this relevant fact.

The Chieftain's October 6 article also reported that, “in April, when Entz knew he would be facing a tough re-election against Schwartz for his 15th and likely final race for elected office, he said Salazar promised to remain neutral” and that “Entz said Salazar broke that promise last month when he publicly endorsed Schwartz, a regent for the University of Colorado, saying she would make a fine state senator.”

The article further reported that Entz said, “He [Salazar] said he would not endorse either one of us and stay neutral ... [t]hen he did what he did,” but the article did not include any comments from Salazar or his staff regarding that claim.

As Colorado Media Matters has noted, a September 20 column by Rocky Mountain News political columnist Peter Blake reported that Salazar spokesman Jim Carpenter disputed Entz's claim that Salazar promised to stay neutral. Carpenter said Salazar had told Entz at an April meeting that “he wouldn't endorse anybody then, but if he changed his mind, he would call and give him advance warning.” Blake also noted Entz said Salazar did call him to tell him that Salazar would be endorsing Schwartz.

From Ashby's October 6 Pueblo Chieftain article:

State Sen. Lewis Entz got what he wanted. . . sort of.

Though he's still bemoaning Democrat U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar's endorsement last month of fellow party member Gail Schwartz for his Senate District 5 seat, the Hooper Republican did wrangle a “positive statement” from his longtime friend.

While the statement falls far short of being an endorsement, Entz said it at least acknowledges the mutual support - and mutual endorsements - the two have shared over the years.

[...]

Salazar could not be reached to confirm he uttered those words, but his press secretary, Cody Wertz, acknowledged that they did come from his boss.

Wertz, however, termed the quote as being no more than a “positive statement for Lew Entz to use,” stopping short of calling it an endorsement of his re-election.

“That's as far as I'll go,” Wertz said.

[...]

In 1998, Entz broke with his own party and endorsed Salazar when he ran for, and won, the attorney general position, repeating that endorsement during his re-election in 2002.

Salazar returned the favor that same year, backing Entz over his Democratic rival, Rafael Gallegos.

But in April, when Entz knew he would be facing a tough re-election against Schwartz for his 15th and likely final race for elected office, he said Salazar promised to remain neutral.

Entz said Salazar broke that promise last month when he publicly endorsed Schwartz, a regent for the University of Colorado, saying she would make a fine state senator.

“He said he would not endorse either one of us and stay neutral,” Entz said. “Then he did what he did.”