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Musgrave runs attack campaign on Markey for D4
Trevor Simonton
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: News
In the wake of Congress' failure to approve a $700 billion bailout Monday and looming fears surrounding the nation's future economy, the battle for Colorado's coveted 4th Congressional District seat is taking a sharp focus on the candidate's economic plans.
Incumbent Rep. Marilyn Musgrave has been fiercely battling Democratic candidate Betsy Markey for the seat that has been held by Republicans since 1972, which Democrats fell just short of taking in 2006.
Both campaigns have highlighted the importance of considering the current disastrous condition of the economy and how that will affect future generations.
But Musgrave, R - Colorado, who has held the seat since 2002, is fighting an uphill battle as the current economic turmoil is linked to the Bush administration and the Republican Party. CSU political science professor John Straayer said the poor state of the economy has tarnished the image of the current Republicans in office and has opened the door to a Democratic election.
"The 4th Congressional seat has been in Republican hands since the 1970s," he said. "But now Musgrave has been handicapped in this election by a negative Republican Party image. … The national political atmosphere is not good for Republicans."
Christana Duran, president of the Colorado Young Democrats, said the seat will directly impact funding for higher education.
"That's going to be an important seat," Duran said.
"It's important in terms of access and affordability of higher education, and in terms of going forward."
Straayer said the Republicans have had an overwhelming base of support in this district, but now, because of the Iraq war and the economy, the seat is now highly competitive.
Ben Marter, a spokesperson for the Democratic Markey campaign, recognizes this fact and said that Musgrave has helped bring the economy into the mess in which it currently stands.
"People like her consistently vote to deregulate financial markets," he said. "We certainly need more oversight of the financial markets."
Incumbent Rep. Marilyn Musgrave has been fiercely battling Democratic candidate Betsy Markey for the seat that has been held by Republicans since 1972, which Democrats fell just short of taking in 2006.
Both campaigns have highlighted the importance of considering the current disastrous condition of the economy and how that will affect future generations.
But Musgrave, R - Colorado, who has held the seat since 2002, is fighting an uphill battle as the current economic turmoil is linked to the Bush administration and the Republican Party. CSU political science professor John Straayer said the poor state of the economy has tarnished the image of the current Republicans in office and has opened the door to a Democratic election.
"The 4th Congressional seat has been in Republican hands since the 1970s," he said. "But now Musgrave has been handicapped in this election by a negative Republican Party image. … The national political atmosphere is not good for Republicans."
Christana Duran, president of the Colorado Young Democrats, said the seat will directly impact funding for higher education.
"That's going to be an important seat," Duran said.
"It's important in terms of access and affordability of higher education, and in terms of going forward."
Straayer said the Republicans have had an overwhelming base of support in this district, but now, because of the Iraq war and the economy, the seat is now highly competitive.
Ben Marter, a spokesperson for the Democratic Markey campaign, recognizes this fact and said that Musgrave has helped bring the economy into the mess in which it currently stands.
"People like her consistently vote to deregulate financial markets," he said. "We certainly need more oversight of the financial markets."
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