The battle for control of Congress is in the final stretch, with Colorado in the midst of all the drama. Democrats need 15 seats to take control of the U.S. House and six to take the Senate.
Such a radical shift hasn’t been seen since Republicans swept Democrats from power in 1994. Dozens of races are close, and Republicans hope to maintain their majorities with a final burst of campaign ads and an expensive get-out-the-vote drive. Democrats are trying to offer voters a realistic alternative to policies that have mired ruling Republicans in Iraq, in scandal and in debt.
Voters in three of Colorado’s congressional districts have a ringside seat; we hope they send a message that congressional leadership has faltered and political change in Washington is imperative.
The 7th District is an open seat and destined to go down to the wire. The 4th and the 5th are longtime GOP posts that are seeing surprising Democratic challenges.
Victories in Colorado would provide the GOP with a cushion against expected losses in other states, and Republicans are waging a full-court press in the week ahead. Vice President Dick Cheney is scheduled to stop in Colorado Springs Friday to stump for 5th District candidate Doug Lamborn, who is battling Democrat Jay Fawcett for the seat being vacated by Joel Hefley. President Bush will be hot on his heels, campaigning Saturday for Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, who is battling to retain the 4th District seat against Democratic rival Angie Paccione.
The Democrats have unleashed their big guns to help 7th District Democrat Ed Perlmutter in his battle against GOP candidate Rick O’Donnell. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and California Rep. Nancy Pelosi visited last week. Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to be here today.
Regardless of next Tuesday’s outcome, Denver Rep. Diana DeGette will become the senior member of Colorado’s congressional delegation when Hefley retires. In her 10 years representing Denver’s 1st District, DeGette has taken on critical issues, from homeland security to health care. She authored legislation to expand federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research, which was passed by both the House and Senate but then vetoed by President Bush. In the current election, she has campaigned for candidates in several states where stem- cell research is a key issue. DeGette has said that if Democrats win control, the bill will be resurrected in the first week.
Alone among Colorado’s seven members of the House, DeGette is running without major-party opposition. For good reason – she serves Denver and Colorado with thoughtful imagination.
