GOP's Frazier, Tipton set to get NRCC money

Frazier, who is challenging Rep. Ed Perlmutter in the state’s 7th congressional district, and Tipton, who’s taking on Rep. John Salazar in the 4th, are among 18 newly-minted “Young Guns”, GOP candidates that are slated to get fundraising and organization help from the NRCC down the stretch.

The group has now grown to 75 candidates, a sign that Republicans are looking to capitalize on what seems to be a favorable electoral environment this fall and believe, based on several polls, that additional seats are coming into play.

“I appreciate this signature recognition by the NRCC as a Young Gun,” Frazier said. “Our campaign continues to gain momentum as we head into the final stretch of the campaign season.”

It’s not clear, however, just how much money the NRCC plans to spend on these candidate’s behalf. Up to this point, the group has planned to spend around $24 million to air television ads in 47 districts across the country.

The DCCC has already announced it will air ads in 60 districts, but may be adding and subtracting names from that list down the stretch.

Perlmutter, thought to be safe just months ago, is likely to get help from the DCCC if he needs it. In recent weeks, national pundits have moved the race from the “safe Democrat” column into the “leaning Democrat” or “toss-up” columns.

Perhaps the clearest sign of the race’s narrowing is Perlmutter’s decision to start airing a television ad this week, something he didn’t have to do at all in 2008 when he cruised handily to a second term. Similarly, Salazar has borrowed back his former spokesperson, Tara Trujillo, who is on leave from her job working for Sen. Mark Udall to help get Salazar, who she used to work for, through the election.

“Ryan’s campaign is a symbol of the growing momentum behind Republican candidates in Colorado and across the country. As Democrats and their party bosses continue to force their big-government, big-spending policies onto the backs of hard-working families, Republicans like Ryan Frazier will continue to present a clear alternative to a Democrat majority that unapologetically spends too much, borrows too much and taxes too much.”

The DCCC, not surprisingly, sees it differently.

“It’s hardly a surprise that national Republicans have named Tipton and Frazier Young Guns, considering that both of them have enthusiastically endorsed the national Republican agenda to protect tax loopholes for companies that ship American jobs overseas,” said DCCC spokesman Andy Stone.
Click here to read the full story.