Retiring U.S.
representative Joel Hefley, a Colorado Republican, has
decided against running as a write-in candidate in November,
despite pressure from some Republicans who feel the
party's nominee to replace him is too conservative,
his spokeswoman said Tuesday. "Some discussions" took
place about the 10-term congressman running again,
spokeswoman Jenny Walberg said. She declined to give
specifics or identify who was asking Hefley to run.
State senator
Doug Lamborn of Colorado Springs won a fiercely fought
six-way primary on August 8 that Colorado College political
scientist Bob Loevy described as a "race to the
Right." During the campaign, Lamborn, a 52-year-old
attorney, said, "I think maybe there are some
candidates who are trying to present themselves as
conservative as me, but I don't know if they'll be
successful."
At one point the
GOP candidates accused each other of dirty campaign
tactics. A mailer from the Christian Coalition of Colorado
sent in support of Lamborn accused opponent Jeff Crank
of "public support for members and efforts of the
homosexual agenda." Lamborn's campaign manager, John
Hotaling, denied that Lamborn's campaign had anything to do
with the mailing. However, Hotaling is the former director
of the Christian Coalition of Colorado, and his
brother is the current director.
The district is
one of the state's most conservative and is considered a
safe seat for Republicans. Democrats nominated Air Force
veteran Jay Fawcett.
The Gazette of Colorado Springs reported
Tuesday that Hefley was being heavily lobbied to run as a
write-in out of concern about how Lamborn ran his
primary campaign.
Hefley, 71,
"thinks it's better for the party not to run," Walberg
said. She said he was adamant when she spoke to him Tuesday.
"He said, 'No, no,' " she said. "He is of course flattered
by the support."
Hefley was at a
funeral and could not be reached immediately. (AP,
Jennifer Talhelm)