Udall 'deeply gratified' by win

DENVER--Following what shaped up to be an sizable win, U.S. Senator-elect Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs) said he was "deeply gratified" and planned to focus on jobs, housing, ending the Iraq War and renewable energy.

Udall called his win over Republican Bob Schaffer a "Victory for the citizens of Colorado."

"They decided that they wanted a senator who will work across the aisle, a senator who's going to focus on putting people back to work and keeping people in their homes investing in our country," said Udall, speaking to reporters at a Democratic rally at a downtown hotel.

In Schaffer's concession call, Udall said the Fort Collins Republican "offered to help me, he told me I'm his senator. He wants to see me succeed."

"He and I share the same goal for America - we want a strong, free and respected America," Udall said.

Schaffer kept to the offensive against Udall for much of the campaign, and his campaign repeatedly branded him a "Boulder liberal." Udall, by contrast, remained laid-back.

Asked about the "Boulder liberal" moniker, Udall said, "I think the people of Colorado are tired of that old kind of politics and campaigning -- and they looked at who I am, they looked at what kind of campaign I ran. I appealed to people on the basis of what I want to do."