The Hill News

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) broke with President Obama on Wednesday, saying he would not support any additional stimulus spending.

Bennet, who was endorsed by the president in Colorado but is facing a tough reelection, rejected the $50 billion public works program proposed by Obama earlier this week.

“I will not support additional spending in a second stimulus package," Bennet said in a statement.

The statement is a sharp pivot for Bennet, who voted for the initial $787 billion stimulus plan favored by Obama in February of 2009. The freshman senator sounded more like a Republican on Wednesday, calling for any new spending to be funded through unspent stimulus dollars.

"Any new transportation initiatives can be funded through the Recovery Act, which still contains unused funds," he said. "Public-private partnerships that improve our infrastructure are a good idea, but must be paid for, should not add a dime to the deficit,! and should be covered by unused Recovery Act dollars.  We must make hard choices to significantly reduce the deficit."

The statement is as much a reflection of the tough political environment facing Democrats this fall, especially in states like Colorado. Recent polling suggests that Republican candidate Ken Buck is leading Bennet.

The Democratic senator has taken more steps to distance himself from Obama since winning a very competitive Democratic primary, though the president had endorsed him and worked to get him through the primary. Bennet said the morning after the win that he'd "have to see" if he wants Obama to campaign for him this fall.

Bennet said he was still open to some tax credits to support the energy industry in Colorado.