Elections Blog

http://www.longmontfyi.com/Local-Story.asp?id=10679

Massachusetts governor a potential candidate for president in 2008

By Douglas Crowl
The Daily Times-Call

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney visited a farm east of Longmont on Wednesday to stump for Rep. Marilyn Musgrave’s re-election bid in the 4th Congressional District.

Romney, who could be looking at a presidential bid in 2008, gave a short speech to a handful of Musgrave’s family and supporters.

Musgrave is running for her third term against Democrat Angie Paccione and Reform Party candidate Eric Eidsness.

Romney said the country needs leaders like Musgrave because of “tough times” ahead, including strong competition from Asia, too much spending in Washington and the country’s use of too much oil.

“Her reputation is known around the country as someone who cares deeply about America,” Romney said.

Musgrave introduced Romney and recalled how impressed she was upon first spending time with him.

“We were visiting with him and, you know, he was downright presidential,” Musgrave said with a laugh.

With 12 days left in her re-election campaign, Musgrave said she feels confident and strong.

“We have a good, strong lead that we are holding onto, and we are going to press on,” Musgrave said.

Musgrave’s spokesman, Guy Short, said the campaign’s internal polling shows the congresswoman ahead of Paccione by more than 10 percent, while a recent Denver newspaper poll also showed her ahead by 10 percent.

But Paccione’s campaign released its own numbers Wednesday, by Democrat pollster Andrew Myers, which showed Paccione ahead by 3 percent over Musgrave.

Myers called the race a dead heat, citing that as the reason national Republicans haven’t continued with television ad funding in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District.

Douglas Crowl can be reached at 303-684-5253, or by e-mail at dcrowl@times-call.com.