Environmental group puts money behind anti-Musgrave effort

One of the Democrats’ top targets in the battle for the U.S. House is taking heat from an environmental advocacy group in a new set of television advertisements launching today.

Defenders of Wildlife PAC is airing hard-hitting ads that aim to portray U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave as out-of-step on the environment and too close to President Bush. In one of the two ads airing the organization accuses Musgrave of voting to give tax breaks to oil companies and pictures the three-term congresswoman getting a kiss from the president.

In the 4th Congressional District race, Musgrave is facing off against Betsy Markey, a businesswoman and former Larimer County Democratic Party chair. Musgrave, who defeated Democrat Angie Paccione in 2006 with a narrow 46 percent of the vote, is widely seen as vulnerable this cycle.

Defenders of Wildlife PAC is placing a significant sum of money behind the ad campaign, reportedly purchasing about $200,000 worth of air time and spending about $12,000 to produce the ads.

“Marilyn Musgrave has the wrong priorities for the people of Colorado’s 4th District,” said Defenders Action Fund President Rodger Schlickeisen. “She is out of touch with her own constituents and on the wrong side of virtually every major environmental issue. We know Betsy Markey will work hard to protect our air, land and water for future generations, and we are proud to give her our endorsement.”

Musgrave’s mainly rural district in eastern and northern Colorado, which includes the cities of Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley, is largely conservative. But the district also has an independent streak and the environment is a top concern.

"The people of Colorado's Fourth District know Marilyn Musgrave to be an independent voice in Washington who works every day to meet the needs of the district,” said Julie Shutley, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. “And while Marilyn Musgrave has been working to find real energy solutions, Betsy Markey is filling her campaign coffers with money from Democrat leaders in Washington who continues to do nothing to alleviate prices at the pump."

It’s not the first time the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund PAC has targeted a Republican this cycle. Earlier this year the organization launched an ad targeting Steve Pearce, who is running for U.S. Senate in New Mexico.

ALSO on PolitickerCO.com:

• Musgrave targeted by gay-rights political action committee