U.S. Rep. Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs) is the likely Democratic nominee in one of the country's most-watched U.S. Senate races. Facing presumptive Republican nominee Bob Schaffer for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-) this fall, most polls have shown the two in a razor-thin race.

In this week's Monday Morning Politicking, Udall discusses his plans for the Roan Plateau, his stance on the D.C. gun ban, his prediction that a Democratic presidential nominee will be chosen before the Democratic National Convention, and who he's rooting for in tonight's NCAA Championship basketball game.

PolitickerCO: Of course, you were out touring the Roan Plateau last weekend, and in the past you've called for a drilling moratorium, but last weekend you and the Salazars pushed a plan to incrementally lease the plateau. I was wondering - why the change?

Udall: The flight I took just underlined my commitment to protecting as much of the Roan as we possibly can, particularly the Trapper's Creek area which has some very sensitive watersheds - it's the home of this unique cutthroat trout, and there are some very large elk herds and deer that use the Roan as well. What I'd like to see us do is approach this in a phased leasing mindset as opposed to phased development. If you phase the leasing, then these key areas - these very sensitive areas - in the Roan are kept off-limits for a significant period of time into the future, and in that additional time I'd like to see more advanced technology such as directional drilling. When you fly over it, you cannot help but be really astonished at how much development is occurring, how much road-building has occurred, how many drill paths there are, and how much of an impact this is going to have on that natural landscape.

The Salazars and myself are working in the context of Governor Ritter's proposal to make sure - once again, let me underline that the Trapper's Creek area in particular - is protected. And I know that there's a line past which John (Salazar) and I in particular won't past when it comes to protecting the Roan.

Maybe I can add some more specificity. There are areas of critical environmental concern, they're called. And what Congressman Salazar, Senator Salazar and I are trying to do is protect those areas and make sure there's an ironclad rule in place that road-building won't occur and that existing roads are managed very, very carefully so that there isn't any opening or any loophole to develop those areas in the near term. There's so much going throughout that basin, there's so many leases that have already been granted, I'd like to see those leases developed rather than just wholescale rush to lease every single acre of the Roan...

...And I don't think it's a stretch to suggest the Bush Administration, which has some nine months or so left in office, is on a path to accelerate everything that they possibly can, because I think the next president will be more environmentally sensitive - whoever that president is - and understand that the Roan's a priceless resource.

PolitickerCO: Republicans have been calling you a hypocrite for supporting the decision of Parker v. District of Columbia, regarding the D.C gun ban, even though you voted to support the D.C. gun ban four times. What would you say to these charges?

Udall: What I would say is, I believe in the Second Amendment. I believe there's an individual right in the Second Amendment. I think the (Supreme) Court ought to hear this case - obviously, it will hear this case and render a decision. And now let's talk about how we put people back to work here in Colorado and trigger a free energy economy, and put people back to work, given the tough economic times not only Colorado faces but the whole country faces. And finally, my position's been consistent in the spirit of local control, which of course Republicans often trumpet, but in their own way they have been trying to run right over it, particularly when it comes to the District of Columbia.

PolitickerCO: There's a new poll out a couple days ago showing you with a 12-point lead over Bob Schaffer. But before that, as I'm sure you know, all the polls show you and Bob within the margin of error. Are you still expecting a close race through November?

Udall: [Laughs] Of course. The only poll that counts is the one on November 4 of this year. I know that's a truism, but that truly is the only contest that matters. I expect this race to be hard-fought. Colorado's a swing state. The color schemes that people like to use are, I think, of limited use, but if you want to use the color scheme we're a purple state. I do believe my record, my style, my focus will be attractive to Colorado voters, particularly independents and swing voters. And people want a change, people want problem-solving. They don't want the ideology or formulaic approaches to policy-making. And certainly that characterizes my record in the Congress and my style.

Bob Schaffer, on the other hand: if you look at his record, it speaks volumes. The difference between Bob Schaffer and myself are numerous, and I'd be happy to share that list with you. But let me say this too: my focus right now is on traveling the state, listening to people here, letting them hear what I have to say about the country's future, and introducing myself to them and undergoing what is a long, exciting and important job interview, and at a necessary point in time, then, people can draw the contrasts between Bob Schaffer and myself.

But in sum, I'm saying to people, "Here's why I want the job," not why Bob Schaffer is somehow not ready for the job -- though I think that needs to be made.

PolitickerCO: And given those arguments and given that many Democrats are saying that Schaffer's too conservative for the job, why are you expecting such a close race if he's too conservative?

Udall: Well, I think that remains to be seen how close it'll be. People of the state want somebody who's a problem-solver. They want somebody who's independent-minded. They want somebody who has the courage of his convictions. They want somebody who will listen. And at the end, your position on the political spectrum is less important, I think, than the record that you've accumulated. And I like where I stand in all of those criteria. I want to trigger a Green energy revolution. People in this state are eager to find ways to provide more affordable and accessible health care. People of this state, I believe, see an important role federal government to help us pull out of this economic downturn, stimulus package we passed in the Congress makes a great deal of sense - those rebate checks arrive in people's mailboxes within the next 60 days, I mean, we'll see a little bit of a lift from that. And people in Colorado understand we can't maintain an open-ended commitment in Iraq with no clear way forward. Those are all, I think, common-sense ideas and ways we can strengthen our country.

PolitickerCO: The NRSC and the Schaffer campaign have given you a couple of nicknames, like "Boulder Liberal" and "U-turn Udall." And I was wondering if you had a nickname that you would suggest for yourself as an alternative to these.

Udall: By the way, people who say that don't know my record. I'm proud of my record. I've worked to promote wind and solar and biomass energy sources in this state. I've worked with Senator [Wayne] Allard to clean up Rocky Flats and turn it into a wildlife refuge. My service on the Armed Services Committee has included expanding the size of veterans' benefits as well as working to increase the size of the army by eight divisions - 80,000 soldiers - so our National Guard and reserve forces can be utilized here at home. So let me just make that clear.

Coloradans, I think, are averse to labels. They know there's more to public service than just labels. I think that's the politics of the 1990s, which the Republican Party was pretty good at practicing back then - people have seen through it. My label is I'm an "independent Western Democrat."

PolitickerCO: And you're also a superdelegate-

Udall: I am a superdelegate.

PolitickerCO: I was wondering what you thought about the current status of the presidential race and how it's going to play out.

Udall: I'm one who is, number one, is uncommitted. Number two, I think this has been very healthy for the Democratic Party and the country. There are so many new people who have been drawn into the process - just look at Colorado. In the caucuses, normally we get 15- to 20,000 people. This year we had 120,000 people. I think that's good for the Democratic Party. It's good for the state; it's good for the country to have people engaged and caring about the future. This is a crucial election: I think it's one of the most important of my adult lifetime, frankly.

And finally, I am uncommitted. I've been focused on my own race. We get two very, very strong potential nominees. If the superdelegates need to weigh in in June - which is what I would predict that would happen - I'm more than ready to do so. I cast some votes every week in the House of Representatives, so we - a challenging vote, but I will cast at that time. We'll see what happens in the next - what do we have, six or seven weeks, I guess? - until June, until the run of primaries is finished.

My admonition - it's more of a comment, I guess, as opposed to an admonition, because everybody has the right to make up their own mind -- to all the Democrats, all of us, is let's remember we're unified, we'll win in November. We let ourselves to be divided, passions that have been more and more apparent,that I think it gives John McCain a wonderful opportunity to be the next president of the United States. But I'm confident we'll come back together and support our nominee.

PolitickerCO: What would you think about a McCain presidency?

Udall: McCain presidency?

PolitickerCO: Yeah.

Udall: [Laughs] Here's what I think. I'm looking forward to serving in the United States Senate starting in January and working with John McCain in the Senate on climate change, on stem cell research, and immigration reform. You got my drift, right?

PolitickerCO: I do, I do [Laughs].

It's Kansas/Memphis tonight in the NCAA Championship - who's your pick?

Udall: Oh boy. As a member - the University of Colorado's a member of the Big 12, I guess I should be inclined to root for Kansas, but I like the way Memphis plays. I'm going to root for Memphis. Plus those Kansans want our water! [Laughs]

PolitickerCO: This is just the start, huh?

Udall: [Laughs)We have to stand up to Kansas.

My grand-grandfather on my mother's side was a professor at CSU a hundred years ago, and he was a water engineer, and he fought Kansas way back then for the water of the Platte River and the Arkansas River. And I'm still mindful of that set of struggles.