Jay Fawcett

Bidlack talks to supportersFifth Congressional District Democratic candidate Hal Bidlack raised $102,703 in the second quarter of 2008 -- the most ever raised by a CO-5 Democratic candidate through June.

That also beats all previous quarterly fundraising by any of the three Republican candidates in the CO-5 race, though none of them have yet reported their second-quarter numbers.

Bidlack, a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel, will report having $77,372 cash-on-hand at the end of the second quarter, said spokesperson Robby Noble. That's another record for a CO-5 Democrat, Noble said.

Bidlack talking to supportersCOLORADO SPRINGS- Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack opened his congressional campaign office in Colorado Springs on Thursday, telling supporters he plans to be the first Democrat ever elected in the heavily conservative 5th Congressional District.

"With a lot of hard work, with a lot of hours and asking a lot of people for help financially, helping in the office, we can actually really startle this country, and end the 30-year pattern of never electing a Democrat in CD-5," Bidlack said outside his office, a house south of downtown Colorado Springs. "I think that I may be that guy."