John McCain

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson said in February that "I cannot, and will not, vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience," noting that McCain (R-Ariz.) "voted for embryonic stem cell research to kill nascent human beings" and has a "legendary temper and often uses foul and obscene language."

Yesterday, he announced that though he is not endorsing the senator, he will vote for him.

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama would win Colorado - and the presidency -- if the election were held today, GOP strategist Karl Rove stated Monday on his Web site.

If the election were held today, Obama would win every state John Kerry won in 2004, while adding New Mexico (5 EV), Iowa (7 EV), and Colorado (9 EV) to his coalition," Rove wrote, citing the latest wave of state polls to be released in the past few days.

As the Grand Junction Sentinel's Mike Saccone observed on his blog Political Notebook, "When Karl Rove says a Republican is doing poorly, well, that's not a good sign for conservatives."

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U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn's campaign is preparing for its "biggest literature drop ever" this weekend in anticipation of mail-in ballots being sent out to voters next week.

In an email sent out to Lamborn supporters Tuesday, manager Robin Coran said volunteers were needed to stuff and distribute literature to more than 20,000 homes on behalf of Lamborn, GOP presidential nominee John McCain, and Republican U.S. Senate nominee Bob Schaffer.

"This is to reach the homes of the voters just before the mail-in ballots are sent out," Coran wrote in the email, which was titled "Biggest Most Important Volunteer Opportunity Ever."

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Mark Udall is up 7 points over Republican Bob Schaffer in a poll released Wednesday by Ciruli Associates - including a 21-point Udall lead on the Western Slope.

The poll also showed Barack Obama leading John McCain up by a single point in Colorado, 44 percent to 43 percent.

The survey was taken "just prior" to the first presidential debate on Sept. 26 - meaning it was also conducted before the U.S. House rejected a $700 billion financial bailout package on Monday.

Barack Obama's presidential campaign is taking advantage of John McCain's comments about wanting to renegotiate the Colorado River Compact, releasing a new radio ad Tuesday blasting McCain on the issue.

"John McCain supports George Bush's failed economic policies and he wants to take our water, too? That's not the change we need," an announcer says in the ad.

Republican presidential nominee John McCain will be back in Colorado later this week, making stops in Pueblo and Denver, the Rocky Mountain News is reporting.

McCain will attend a "women's town hall" at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in downtown Denver on Thursday, the Rocky reported. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. with the program scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m.

On Friday, McCain will hold a rally at Massari Arena at Colorado State University-Pueblo, the Rocky reported. Doors open at 9 a.m. with the program scheduled for 11 a.m.