CHEYENNE - Democratic U.S. House candidate Gary Trauner will be the proper 'Wyoming voice' in Washington to speak up about the state's needs, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Wednesday.

During a news conference in the State Capitol rotunda, the Democratic two-term chief executive endorsed Trauner. Freudenthal commended the candidate for the time he continues to spend traveling the state and going door to door to find out what kind of message people want carried to Washington.

He also criticized Trauner's opponent, Republican Cynthia Lummis, for taking credit in her campaign ads for the growth of the state's investments by $4 billion during her two terms as state treasurer.

"Anyone can take credit for this," Freudenthal said. "I can. The Legislature can."

The state's healthy economy from mineral development is the reason for that increase, he said.

In response to the governor's objections to her ad taking credit for the jump in state interest income as state treasurer, Lummis said department heads are responsible for what goes on in their offices.

"When things go bad the person in charge bears the blame, and when things proceed as planned and go well and outperform expectations, the person in charge deserves the credit, and rightfully so," Lummis said Wednesday afternoon.

Tucker Fagan, Lummis' campaign manager, issued a news release saying the governor's endorsement came as no surprise, given that he earlier endorsed and has campaigned for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Fagan also questioned why Freudenthal waited until two weeks before the general election before making an announcement.

The other state officials, all of them Republican, earlier endorsed Lummis in the U.S. House race.

Freudenthal said voters should pay attention to which candidates show up for forums and events, because that will be the pattern they will continue in office. Lummis has missed some appearances and sent representatives in her place.

"Gary's pattern is to be accessible. He works hard to reflect what is best in the state," Freudenthal said of the Teton County businessman.

Freudenthal, who wore an American flag tie during the news conference, said he believes undecided voters are only now focusing on the race.

He said people are ready to step back"and look at the nature of the campaign.

The governor also endorsed Trauner two years ago when Trauner ran against Republican incumbent Barbara Cubin. Cubin did not seek re-election this year.

Freudenthal's endorsement of Trauner on Wednesday was much more enthusiastic than two years ago.

"This country is heading into incredibly difficult times," Freudenthal said.

He noted that both presidential candidates talk about change because they understand the nation needs to do business differently than it has in the past.

"We need a different kind of politics in this country and a different kind of leadership that recognizes the place of politics," Freudenthal said.

Freudenthal got in a couple more jabs against Lummis' campaign, which he described as "traditional."

He mentioned the Lummis staffer who called in to a Trauner news conference under a fake name, and Lummis' mistake in a recent debate in which she referred to Obama as "Osama."

He also said that while Trauner was criticized for being born in New York, Lummis' campaign manager, "my good friend Tucker Fagan," was born in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Fagan later said he was born in Bronxville, N.Y.

Freudenthal said he will campaign for Trauner "some," but pointed out he has a "day job."

He also claimed his previous friction with Lummis during the first of her two terms as state treasurer had nothing to do with his decision to endorse her opponent.

"We had a pure disagreement about some investment policies involving several hundred million dollars," he said. "We had a good, clean fight. I lost. The board went against me. I'm still convinced I was right.

"But it wasn't me who moved out of the Capitol. I was still in my office," he added.

Trauner, who stood next to Freudenthal during the news conference, said the governor is a role model who doesn't care who gets credit for achieving something worthwhile.

"That's the model I want to bring to Washington, D.C," he said.

Contact capital bureau reporter Joan Barron at (307) 632-1244 or joan.barron@trib.com.