Hank Brown

Following Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s acceptance speech Thursday night at Invesco Field, former Colorado U.S. Sen. Hank Brown shot back with a GOP response.

"The speech was eloquent, but no matter how nice his rhetoric it does not change his paper-thin record,” Brown said in a e-mailed statement late Thursday night. “The fact is he is against increased drilling, against an all of above energy' plan and voted for tax increases on people making as little as $42,000.

“As a veteran I am offended that Barack Obama would say he'll take care of our veterans when he voted to cut off funds for our troops in fighting in the field,” the statement continued. “The pomp and circumstance is over, the speech had ended - but the truth still remains, Barack Obama lacks the experience and judgment to be our commander in chief."

Former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown told PolitickerCO.com Saturday afternoon that he was “shocked” to hear Barack Obama had picked U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as his running-mate, given Biden’s “been probably the most articulate critic of Obama on the Democratic side.”

“Joe’s comments or criticisms of Obama with regard to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran and Pakistan were all devastating,” Brown said. “If you remember Joe really kind of lectured Obama with regard to Pakistan when Obama talked about invading Pakistan. So it’s really a surprise.”

Asked why he thought Obama picked Biden, Brown said, “Perhaps he thought all the things that Biden had said would not be noticed.

“ It may well be, though, that he thought Biden could make up for his shortcomings in foreign policy, and certainly Joe (has), having been chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, a pretty strong credential there,” Brown said.

Both presidential campaigns trotted out Colorado military veterans on Monday: McCain's camp to unveil a new state veterans campaign group, Obama's to answer a recent negative television ad by McCain.

In Denver, CO-5 Democratic candidate and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack and Colorado Veterans' Alliance President Rick Duncan joined other veterans in blasting presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

Less than an hour later, in Colorado Springs, the McCain camp unveiled Colorado Veterans for John McCain, a campaign constituency group headed by, among others, former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown (R-Colo.)

Colorado has five living former United States Senators: Bill Armstrong, 71, who served from 1979 to 1991; Hank Brown, 68, who served from 1991 to 1997; Ben Nighthorse Campbell, 75, who served from 1993 to 2001; Gary Hart, 71, a Senator from 1975 to 1987; and Tim Wirth, 68, who served from 1987 to 1993.