Betsy Markey

The Fourth of July is about fireworks, barbecuing, parades and -- of course -- politicking.

After the jump, check out where Colorado candidates for U.S. Senate and Congress will be on America's birthday.

With energy and the environment emerging as hot button topics this election year, two environment-focused advocacy groups are spending heavily in competitive House and Senate races in Colorado.

The League of Conservation Voters is coming out strongly for Democrat Mark Udall in his run for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Loveland). The organization has sunk more than $565,000 into two television advertisements slamming Udall’s Republican opponent, former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer.

Earlier this week, Defenders of Wildlife PAC began airing two television advertisements targeting U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, who is engaged in a competitive race with Democrat Betsy Markey. The organization has purchased about $200,000 in television airtime and spent about $12,000 to produce the ads.

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 (R-Fort Morgan) 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.

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. 

U.S. Rep. Marilyn MusgraveU.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Fort Morgan) has again become a target of the Gill Action Fund, a gay rights political action committee, reports The Advocate. Musgrave is in a tight race against Democratic challenger Betsy Markey for Colorado's 4th Congressional District, which takes in traditionally strong conservative areas in eastern and northern Colorado.

In a boost to her campaign for congress, former Larimer County Democratic Party chair Betsy Markey (D-Fort Collins) was selected Wednesday morning as one of 13 new candidates in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Red to Blue Program."

The program is designed to target vulnerable Republican incumbents by bringing raising money for qualified Democratic challengers. In 2006, the program raised nearly $22.6 million, with an average of $404,000 given to each participating candidate.

If this amount of money was donated to Markey's campaign, it would help to close the funding gap between her and her opponent, incumbent U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R - Fort Morgan). As of March 31, Musgrave had raised $624,000 more than Markey.

The Cook Political Report on Thursday changed their rating of the 4th Congressional District race from "leans Republican" to "toss-up."

House editor David Wasserman explained in the Cook Political Report that Democratic candidate Betsy Markey "has finally gotten her campaign operation into shape" against incumbent U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Fort Morgan).

Democratic strategists, Wasserman added, "also say she carries less baggage than 2006 nominee Angie Paccione, who came within three points of defeating Musgrave."

U.S. Rep. Marilyn MusgraveA new poll by CD-4 Democratic candidate Betsy Markey's campaign shows the Fort Collins businesswoman with a 7-point edge over incumbent U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Fort Morgan), the Denver Post reported Tuesday.

The poll of 400 likely CD-4 voters shows Markey leading Musgrave 43 percent to 36 percent, the Post reported.

Musgrave Chief of Staff Guy Short countered with a campaign poll of their own from March showing Musgrave with a 5-point edge, 47 percent to 42 percent, according to the Post.

COLORADO SPRINGS -- The day before the state Democratic convention, thousands packed a Colorado Springs hotel for three Democratic congressional assemblies - even though none of the assemblies were competitive.

The large crowds Friday led to long delays and logistical snafus during the assemblies.

Delegates turned out in record high numbers, waiting in line for hours to register for the CD-3, CD-4, and CD-5 assemblies, in which John Salazar, Betsy Markey and Hal Bidlack were set to be approved uncontested.

Though President Bush will be the state's most prominent commencement speaker this year, a number of other political figures will be addressing Colorado grads next month as well.

Gov. Bill Ritter will deliver commencement addresses for Trinidad State Junior College on May 9, Colorado State University's College of Liberal Arts on May 17, and Telluride High School on May 20, a press release stated.

Betsy MarkeyCD-4 Democratic candidate Betsy Markey reported more than $226,000 in contributions during the first quarter of 2008, putting her well ahead of previous Democratic challengers to incumbent U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Fort Morgan).

The Markey campaign raised $226,641 in 1Q 2008, giving them $376,373 cash-on-hand, according to preliminary numbers released Tuesday.