Obama took Ritter's line

by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau DENVER - Barack Obama obviously has been hanging around with Gov. Bill Ritter.

In Tuesday's presidential debate, the Democratic candidate talked about creating a "new energy economy." Ritter has rarely gone a day as governor without using the phrase.

At a water conference on Wednesday, Ritter said he gave Obama the phrase when the two were on the campaign trail this year.

Obama had been talking about creating "green jobs." Ritter urged him to think in broader terms - not just jobs but a whole economy.

For the record, Ritter said he didn't coin the phrase. One of his campaign advisers, Melody Harris, invented it.