Democrats battle in key House race in Colorado

[Judi Lynn]

Democrats battle in key House race in Colorado
Wed Jul 26, 2006 4:24pm ET

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (Reuters) - In one of the most tightly contested and closely watched U.S. House races, Republican Rick O'Donnell has been a gleeful bystander as Democrats slug it out in a primary that could leave the winner weak and vulnerable in November.

O'Donnell, the unopposed Republican nominee in Colorado's 7th District, has been organizing and raising money all year while Democrats Peggy Lamm and Ed Perlmutter batter each other and spend their cash ahead of the August 8 primary.

"The morning of August 9, I'm going to have an opponent who is bloodied, bruised and bankrupt, and I'm going to be ready to go," said O'Donnell, a former state director of higher education who picked up another $600,000 for his campaign last week when President George W. Bush visited for a fund raiser.

But Democrats say their primary winner will have high name recognition, fresh momentum and plenty of money heading into November, while O'Donnell will be fighting links with Bush and a sour national political climate for Republicans.
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http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-07-26T202442Z_01_N26359659_RTRUKOC_0_US-COLORADO.xml