Paccione's winning energy

[cal04]

denver post congressional endorsements
Colorado's 4th Congressional District offers a decided contrast between incumbent Republican Marilyn Musgrave and Democratic challenger Angie Paccione, and it has made for an unexpectedly lively campaign.

We believe Paccione offers the district its best bet for strong representation in Washington. She has been a productive member of the Colorado House, steering legislation into law to increase penalties against adults who supply alcohol to minors. She co-sponsored a tough bill this year aimed at methamphetamine abuse, which was signed into law.

In Congress, Musgrave has pursued an extreme agenda and has offered all-too-predictable support for the president on issues ranging from restrictions on embryonic stem cell research to tax and war policy. Her largest burden, though, is that she simply hasn't much to show for her four years in Congress.

To her credit, the congresswoman has recovered somewhat from a disastrous first term when she made opposition to gay marriage her all-consuming issue. Over the last two years, Musgrave paid more attention to issues that will benefit her northern Colorado and Eastern Plains district.

http://www.denverpost.com/endorsements/ci_4484538

[donheld]

1. GO ANGIE GO!

I hope like hell she beats the crap out of Musgrave!

[The Brethren]

2. Angie has a very good chance

of beating Musgrave who has not benefited my area. I've seen first hand how she operates as our house rep. and how she's used her votes.

[hlthe2b]

4. I'm just glad I've virtually eliminated tv in my house..

(and I hope most are tuning out of the political ads). God, they've been nasty this year... Musgrave needs to be turned out immediately, but her nasty karma doesn't end there...:mad:

[The Brethren]

7. the nasty ads are awful

and all mud-slingin Musgrave can muster to take the focus off the lousy job she's been doing.

Speaking of ads, before they even started flying, it didn't help when Musgrave received a gift from an obviously unhappy constituent to her office in person. I must say, Musgrave will probably go down in history as a politician who has received one of the most unique "presents" ever. It was a stupid act by a local, including leaving part of her address on the return label on the package and was then arrested. But leave it to Musgrave to immediately hold Paccione accountable for this person's actions when she had nothing to do with it. And to demand, through the press, that Angie owed her a personal, public apology for it. I swear Musgrave is missing a few screws. I think Paccione handled the situation very well. She was professional, polite and mature about it. And she did it with a straight facet, which honestly, I don't think I could've under the circumstances. :)

[madfloridian]

3. Did I hear the DCCC pulled out? Is it because she is doing well?

It sounded odd. I guess they are really having to scramble to get money to candidates. I know Dean is making a lot of calls promising help if he can get his hands on the money he needs.

[otohara]

5. RNC Running Ton's of Spots for Muskrat

saying Angie went bankrupt. That's all they got!

[The Brethren]

8. ya, they've been busy bashing Angie

for filing bankruptcy in the past according to their ads. I don't know if Paccione filed for bankruptcy or not, nor do I care. However, while Musgrave's ads keep calling her a "deadbeat" for it, apparently they forgot that not only is bankruptcy a legal option, but thousands upon thousands of Americans have filed, including I'm assuming, a number of her constituents who her ads are also calling "deadbeats" and insulting. Now that's the way to charm to the voters.

Since they keep bringing up financial issues, maybe her ads should address some of her votes on this subject....or maybe how her constituents almost didn't get the finances we needed during a yrly budget mtg because she happened to tick off the wrong people in the wrong places when it comes to budgets - as a result of comments that she made about certain members at that mtg that she didn't think would find out. Thankfully TPTB gave us the funding despite her ego. Tactfulness is not one of Musgrave's strong pts.

[paulk]

6. they pulled some of the money that had been slated for tv ads-

it's unknown how much. The rumor is that the money will be shifted to the CO5 and CO7 races. The most recent polling shows Musgrave has opened up a 10 pt. lead, so it's possible that the DCCC has given up that race as lost.

The Musgrave campaign has been running the most vicious personal campaign I've ever seen in my life. She went negative from day one and it is apparently working. Paccione's mistake is that she didn't respond in kind.

Emily's List just endorsed Paccione, so she'll get some money from there.

[The Brethren]

9. Angie did start fighting back

early on - I was hearing (namely on the local radio stations) back to back ads from each of them attacking the other and trying to clarify things. But I agree, Angie should fight even harder. The ads from Musgrave show me she's nervous about losing and they just keep coming. In the past week or so, it seems like stations are airing more of them then Paccione's. I don't know why the DCCC would pull back funding for Paccione - there are a lot of people here who are not happy with Musgrave. However, Paccione still needs ads to fight back with Musgrave even if it's to put the focus back on Musgrave's record.

[The Brethren]

10. Stryker donates $720,000 to Paccione for ads.

'Stryker made the $720,000 donation to "level the playing field" in the 4th Congressional District, said Al Yates,a former Colorado State University president who serves as Stryker's spokesman and policy adviser.

"The Republicans and conservative right have been very much able to control the media message simply by the amount of money they put in," Yates said.'

From The Coloradoan: (which has become a more conservative paper lately)

"Stryker makes big donation to boost Paccione", Oct. 15th
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061015/NEWS01/61014007&SearchID=73260135381985

"Stryker spends $720,000 for congressional ads"
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061014/NEWS01/61014003&SearchID=73260135556678


and another article regarding Paccione vs. Musgrave:
"Dems: Districts ripe for change"
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061017/NEWS01/610170339&SearchID=73260135772758