Musgrave's cash flow problem

Coloradoan:

The National Republican Congressional Committee could have a harder time this year helping Rep. Marilyn Musgrave hang on to her 4th District House seat due to a serious cash shortage.

The NRCC, the House Republicans' fundraising arm, began the 2008 election year with $5.5 million in the bank and debts of $2.9 million.

Its Democratic counterpart, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, had $35 million on hand and debts of $1.4 million.

Two years ago, the NRCC spent $1.8 million on Musgrave's campaign. She won in a three-way race with 46 percent of the vote - the lowest winning percentage in all of the 2006 House races.

Although the NRCC will raise a lot more money between now and Election Day, it's doubtful the group will catch up with the DCCC, and it will be hard-pressed to match what it spent on Musgrave's behalf in 2006, said Nathan Gonzales, political editor for the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report.