IVAN MORENO
Associated Press

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner repeatedly connected Democratic U.S. Senate Mark Udall to the policies of the Obama administration during their first debate, while Udall slammed Gardner for siding with his party on 2013’s partial government shutdown.

The Colorado contest is pivotal to deciding which party controls the Senate in November.

Several times during the debate Saturday night, Gardner referred to Udall and Obama in the same sentence and cited Udall’s support for the nation’s new health care law.

Udall countered by criticizing Gardner for siding with Republicans during the partial federal government shutdown in the aftermath of devastating floods in Colorado.

The high-stakes race is Udall’s first re-election bid after taking office in 2008. Gardner has long been considered a rising star in the GOP.

Most polls show Gardner tied with Udall.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.