House Race Hotline Update: Hefley In A Huff (But not running)

Rep. Joel Hefley (R-CO 05) just announced he wouldn't run a write-in campaign against state Sen. Doug Lamborn (R), but he's still not going to lift a finger to help his party hold the seat.

-- Hefley's handpicked candidate, Jeff Crank, lost a close and nasty primary to Lamborn. The CO arm of the Christian Coalition sent direct mail accusing him of supporting "the radical homosexual lobby." Many prominent conservatives condemned the attacks and Lamborn's campaign. But Lamborn won because he had a solid enough lead among early voters who cast ballots before the pieces hit.

-- A reliable conservative, Hefley has nonetheless diverged from the party leadership in the past. As Ethics Cmte chair, he admonished ex-Maj Ldr Tom DeLay, and then lost his leadership post. Despite occasionally straying from the party-line, he's a well-respected figure within the CD.

-- The Dem nominee, Gulf War vet Jay Fawcett, is still a long-shot despite getting financial support from the netroots. But Hefley's public opposition to Lamborn is an unwelcome interparty nuisance for the GOP when they're trying to defend more pressing seats.

I was very sorry to see Lamborn win the primary. He ran a campaign that was at best nasty, if not dishonest.

I too live in the 7th Congressional, but c'mon...Lamborn is a VERY strong Christian and very ethical. He did not muddy the race. The media is just attacking Lamborn since they are so sad that he won. He is much more conservative than Jeff Crank, and has more character.

Joel Hefley served with distinction, but he began acting like he was king of the district towards the end of his service. If he wants to pout over the victory of a Godly man then I think that he needs to take that up with God.

I live in the 5th and I voted for Lamborn. I also voted for Hefley in every one of his elections but he's off track right now.

There were bad ads but they were run by the Christian Coalition, not Lamborn. They didn't help Lamborn, they hurt him but the voters spoke and he won.

It's time for Republicans to unite behind Lamborn now. You wouldn't believe the nonsense going on here with the Hefley crowd threatening to support the Democrat, etc.

I'm very disappointed in Joel Hefley at this point.

Bull S*it! I helped on the Lamborn campaign, and it was the Crank (while crank may be a good person personally) ran a horrific, nasty campiagn and then tried to fool the consituency into believing it was Lamborn! :( . For one the CC mailings while not tactful (the first one) wAS FACTUALLY True: Crank supported Skorman a pro-homosexual activist while Jeff was head of gov affairs for the CO Springs Chamber! He could have refused to support skorman, or objected, but he didn't becuase he was not standing on principle/conscience..

The crank campaign withe the willing help of the media regualarly send in 'letters to the editor' bashing Lamborn. Accused lamborn of not supporting the military because he took money and was supported by Conservative PAT Toomey!

WHY WOULD YOU LISTEN TO THE MEDIA!? Especially in a Republican primary, where you know they are not going to be rooting for the 'Christian-Conservative-Reaganite' candidate?? Please get the facts before you accuse..

Also you may not know, living in Beauprez's old dist, but Lamborn has been in the leg for 12 years (with a SOLID, non compromising Conservative record).. Authored the biggest tax cut in CO hist, solidly pro-life, anti-illigal imm., co-sponsored the concealed carry, on and on. Whatever I say is veryifyable in the CO legislative reccords...

Also the only reason that Hefly is not supporting Lamborn is because Crank was a staff member for him (and his Hand-picked successor). It's just a matter of spoiled beans.

Once again I am not attacking Crank, for I don't know, and probably would like him personally (God Bless the guy), but it is true that he is the one that ran the "nasty" campaign..

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