FORT COLLINS, Colo.—Incumbent GOP Rep. Marilyn Musgrave promised Thursday to work for new, bipartisan solutions if voters send her back to Congress, vowing to fix the $700 billion Wall Street bailout and push for energy independence.
But Musgrave faces a tough challenge from Democrat Betsy Markey, who used their first debate to repeatedly link Musgrave to problems now facing the nation. Markey said the only solution is a fresh start.
“People are hurting in this country and the tired policies of the past have failed us,” Markey said.
Asked after the debate if she included Musgrave in her criticism, Markey said, “I think Congress is broken. Congress hasn’t gotten anything done and my opponent was part of the problem.”
Musgrave said Democrats have spent $10 million trying to unseat her this year, accusing her of taking money from bankers and investors and saying she’s out of touch with her district.
“This is a tough campaign,” Musgrave said.
Musgrave credited herself with reaching across the aisle on issues important to Colorado, citing the farm bill, working on wilderness policies and trying to get taxpayers a better deal on the bailout. She said Markey doesn’t have a congressional record and voters don’t know what she’ll do if she wins the race.
On energy, Musgrave said she would encourage building nuclear power plants, even if they are built in her district. Markey opposes the idea unless the industry can demonstrate it can responsibly handle nuclear waste.
Musgrave said she would support more oil and gas drilling and criticized Markey for running a television ad saying there was no need to debate the issue.
“Debate? She says drill, I say no. End of debate,” Musgrave said, parroting Markey’s ad.
Musgrave is a conservative firebrand best known for her vocal support of a federal ban on gay marriage. She easily won her first term in 2002, then had a close call two years later in the district covering Colorado’s sprawling eastern plains. She was in another close race in 2006, beating Democrat Angie Paccione.
The close race this year has Republicans worried about losing another House seat.
John Straayer, a political science professor at Colorado State University, said Musgrave is desperate to put her past behind her, but she still stands for conservative principles that made her a target for Democrats the past six years.
Political consultant Floyd Ciruli said attacks by Democrats over the years are beginning to take a toll and the recent economic turmoil has made it more difficult for Musgrave to win re-election this year.
