DENVER—A group that backs Republicans running for critical seats in Congress won’t run advertisements supporting U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave in the last week before Election Day.
Brendan Buck, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee confirmed to the Rocky Mountain News that the group was canceling a $1.2 million television ad buy but he declined to say why.
Musgrave is in a tight race with Fort Collins businesswoman Betsy Markey, who is being heavily promoted by national Democrats.
Musgrave campaign manager Jason Thielman said the move shows the GOP is confident Musgrave will be elected to a fourth term. However, Markey spokesman Ben Marter said it was a sign that Musgrave’s negative ads, which will continue airing through Monday, have been backfiring.
There also could be fewer ads running in the hotly contested race for Colorado’s open U.S. Senate seat.
The Denver Post reported that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will yank television ads supporting U.S. Rep. Mark Udall by Tuesday, citing unnamed state Democratic sources.
DSCC spokesman Matt Miller said the group doesn’t comment on advertising decisions but said that Udall is in a “commanding position to win this race.”
Former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer is also running for the seat being vacated by Republican Wayne Allard.
Udall isn’t happy about the move because outside groups that want to keep the seat in Republican hands have spent more than $15 million on ads against Udall.
“It doesn’t help,” Udall spokeswoman Tara Trujillo said. “We think that outside GOP groups will see this an opportunity to launch more mean-spirited attack ads against Mark.”
