It was supposed to be one of the most competitive congressional races in the country.
But months after receiving top billing, the contest for Colorado’s 7th Congressional District appears to be taking a back seat to what were once considered safe Republican districts.
Faced with hard choices in a tough election year, the national GOP is diverting its attention and resources away from Rick O’Donnell. Instead, the National Republican Congressional Committee has stepped in for incumbent GOP Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, spending $1.3 million so far in an effort to keep her seat safe from a Democratic takeover.
The NRCC has also decided to intervene in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, where Doug Lamborn appears to be struggling against Democrat Jay Fawcett.
Both races are on the Republicans’ “Final Push List,” which named 33 candidates “who are most in need of support right now,” according to a Wednesday article in The Hill.
Notably absent was O’Donnell, who has been lagging Democrat Ed Perlmutter in recent polls.
“It’s remarkable that one of the marquee races of this election is now rarely discussed,” said Amy Walter, senior editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, referring to the 7th District race. “Folks in Washington are talking more about Musgrave’s seat and the 5th District. It really shows the deepening problems for Republicans nationally.”
Jonathan Collegio, an NRCC spokesman, said the GOP had not lost faith in O’Donnell’s ability to win the seat. The list, he said, was to help candidates who need a financial push, and O’Donnell has a 2-1 cash advantage over Perlmutter, according to the last reporting period, which ended Sept. 30.
“It can’t be overstated how important that is, especially when his best material is saved for the last two weeks,” Collegio said.
Jonathan Tee, spokesman for O’Donnell, said the campaign has enough money to get its message out in the remaining 12 days. He also said the campaign was receiving help from NRCC staffers working on get-out- the-vote efforts for O’Donnell.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has spent more than $1.3 million on behalf of Perlmutter, while the GOP has spent only a third of that for O’Donnell.
In the past month, political watchers, such as Congressional Quarterly and the Cook Political Report, have changed the 7th District race’s rating from “tossup” to “leans Democratic.”
The reasoning has focused less on O’Donnell, widely considered a strong candidate, than on timing.
“O’Donnell is going to have a tough time holding the seat for Republicans with the current political environment and the makeup of the district,” said Walter, who tracks U.S. House and Senate races.
The seat is currently held by Republican Bob Beauprez, who is running for governor.
The 7th District, carved during redistricting four years ago, is one of the most evenly split congressional districts in the country, with equal parts Republican, Democratic and unaffiliated voters.
Meanwhile, Musgrave’s race in the 4th District against Democrat Angie Paccione has transformed from what was considered safe for the incumbent to competitive, with only a leaning toward the two-term Musgrave.
“You have to wonder if it’s a closer race than thought and within reach of Paccione,” said John Straayer, a political science professor at Colorado State University. “If Republicans are pouring money in here, they must see something.”
Voter registration numbers in Musgrave’s district are 40 percent Republican, 26 percent Democrat and 34 percent unaffiliated, according to the secretary of state.
And while the 5th District’s 2-1 edge in registered Republican voters keeps Lamborn sitting in a relatively safe GOP category, recent problems within his party have caused trouble for the former state lawmaker.
Retiring Republican Rep. Joel Hefley, who served the district for 20 years, declined to endorse Lamborn, saying he ran a “dishonest” and “sleazy” primary campaign.
Staff writer Karen Crummy can be reached at 303-954-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com.
