Hefley risks GOP hold on Colorado seat

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | October 15, 2006 | Valerie Richardson

[george76]

Republican state Sen. Doug Lamborn's fiercest opponent in the 5th District race isn't his Democratic foe. It's the Republican he's trying to succeed -- 10-term Rep. Joel Hefley.

Mr. Lamborn is running neck and neck with Democrat Jay Fawcett ...

Shortly after Mr. Lamborn won a six-candidate primary on Aug. 8, Mr. Hefley, who is retiring, said he would refuse to endorse the Republican candidate, pointing to what he described as his "sleazy, dishonest campaign."

That stinging rebuke, coming from the highly regarded Mr. Hefley, delivered a devastating blow to Mr. Lamborn's candidacy. Several other prominent Republicans soon joined Mr. Hefley in refusing to endorse Mr. Lamborn, pointing to ads and mailings they say unfairly demonized his Republican foes.

One flier, sent out by the local Christian Coalition, accused fellow Republican Jeff Crank of supporting "the radical homosexual agenda."

Radio and television ads produced by the Club for Growth accused Mr. Crank, who was Mr. Lamborn's chief rival for the nomination, of supporting tax increases.

Mr. Lamborn has insisted he had no control over the content of the disputed materials because they were put out by independent political committees, not his campaign.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Hefley is not revealing that the ads he disagreed with were run by third-party groups that I had nothing to do with," Mr. Lamborn said Friday.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fawcett has taken full advantage of the internecine squabble, running newspaper ads last week listing state Republican leaders under the headline, "None of These Republicans Will Endorse Doug Lamborn for Congress."

Mr. Hefley responded Friday with a statement stressing that he would not support Mr. Fawcett, either, but repeating his earlier remarks about Mr. Lamborn.

"I do not endorse liberal Democrats, and I regard Jay Fawcett as a liberal Democrat,"

[Ben Ficklin]

My apologies, I didn't realize there was a link embedded.

You can imagine my disappointment when you put up the graphics because that was what I had intended to post next.

In a nutshell: In 2000 only 13% of the house districts were decided by a margin of less than 60%.

[george76]

Very nice.

Thanks

[Luke21]

Jim Kolbe has done the same thing to Randy Graf in Arizona.

[Colorado Doug]

When I moved here 35 years ago The most popular bumper sticker was:

Please don't Californicate Colorado

My favorite was: "Welcome to Colorado, now get out"

[Uri’el-2012]

Another one was

Help keep Colorado Green, Bring Money

[george76]

Hopefully this will turn out better for us :

" McCain supports Graf for House seat ...Graf has also been endorsed by Arizona's other senator, Republican Jon Kyl. "

http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/150122

Jim Kolbe was not helpful.

Thanks for the tip.

[george76]

The old but it is " new again " wooden Colorado entry signs are better than the metal garrish color signs that roy romer ? put in.

IMHO.

[Uri’el-2012]

I do like the fact that they built tourist stops;
instead of the trash barrels and five trees

I like the one halfway to Sterling.

and the one in Trinidad; halfway to Albuquerque.

[Clintonfatigued]

That this district is competitive at all is cause for alarm. Clearly, Doug Lamborn isn't the best man that Republicans could have chosen, but Hefley and Company need to get off their high horses and support the team.

[Clintonfatigued]

ping

[AntiGuv]

It seems Lamborn's not much of a fundraiser either. He ended the 3rd Quarter with a pathetic $92,706 cash on hand. That makes him the only Republican anywhere on my lists at less than $100,000 (excluding Negron, who entered after Sept 30). I wonder if need be whether the NRCC will step in to bail him out.

[LibertarianInExile]

"The last gerrymandering occurred in the south (I think it was Georgia) where black congressional districts were created along the lines of Race by the Democrats. They were later determined to be un-constitutional."

And yet you post the Texas map to demonstrate that 'You Republicians in Texas understand gerrymandering.'

I have no idea what your point is or why you're so hungup on this seat not being gerrymandered. It's not as if there are ANY state parties, Rat or Pubbie, that don't have their full attention on setting up favorable districts after each census. It's not like it demeans the district, it's just standard politics these days, unfortunately.

[ducdriver]

"Hefley only sends form letters to his constituents and his staffers rarely if ever return phone calls."

My experience as well.

[DontBelieveAugPolls]

Here is what I mean.


2000 National GOP 47.5% CO GOP 51% GOP +3.5%
2004 National GOP 51% CO GOP 52% GOP +1.0%

This is exactly what happened in CA between 1984 and 1988.

1984 National GOP 59% CA GOP 59% GOP +0.0%
1988 National GOP 54% CA GOP 51% GOP -3.0%

CO shifted roughly as much away from the GOP between 2000 and 2004 as did CA away from the GOP between 1984 and 1988

[an amused spectator]

Who knows Hefley enough to talk with him ?

Why? Without knowing jack about the situation on the ground, it sounds like the guy has principles.

[george76]

re Joel Hefley

[beaversmom]

Thank you for the ping. I haven't been following much local stuff this election season. This makes me mad. Heard Rush saying today that Curt Weldon is being investigated by the Bush's FBI three weeks before an election over something that has been known about for 2 and 1/2 years. What in the heck are Republicans thinking? It's amazing that we get as far as we do. We've got the Dems, the MSM, approx. 1/2 of the voters in this country, and some Republicans all cutting our throats. If we could just get idiot Republicans on board the Republican bandwagon, we could rule the world.