Musgrave in trouble

Musgrave's in trouble, says the Greeley Tribune. Even the farmers are pissed:

Nathan Gonzales, political editor of the Rothenberg Report, says Musgrave is still highly regarded in conservative circles. But a key voter base may be slipping away.

Some Republican farmers who supported her in 2004 are questioning whether she is fighting hard enough for their interests, said Jimmie Dean of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, which does not endorse candidates.

"Not enough dollars have been coming back" to farmers, Dean said.

Roland Naibauer, president of the Weld County Farmer's Union, puts it bluntly.

"She hasn't done much for agriculture," he said. "She should do a better job or quit."

In particular, Naibauer thinks she hasn't worked hard enough for drought relief. Musgrave pushed for an emergency appropriations bill containing $4 billion for farmers suffering from drought, but despite her efforts, the money was cut from the final bill.

Musgrave did successfully petition the Farm Service Agency to open up conservation reserve lands in several counties, including Weld, to emergency haying and grazing because of tough drought conditions.

Nevertheless, Ray Peterson, a La Salle cattle rancher who voted against Musgrave in 2004, is poised to do it again in November.

"I'd vote for Paccione," he said. "She seems to be more concerned about our water issues."

Musgrave twice brought in Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., to Weld County to give farmers a chance to speak directly to federal decision-makers.

"These town meetings don't go anywhere," Peterson said. "I'm not impressed."

Source: SquareState