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By Christa Marshall - Now that presidential candidates are rolling out their TV ads, we thought it was appropriate to check who is winning the money race for the White House in Colorado and the West.

The numbers are interesting in that they challenge the conventional wisdom that Sen. Hillary Clinton and ex-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani are the front-runners of their parties.

Colorado, for example, is Barack Obama country.

Fueled by financial support in Boulder, the senator from Illinois has raised almost twice as much money in the Rocky Mountain State as any other presidential candidate, Republican or Democrat, according to federal election data. >> MORE

Here’s some news impacting Colorado and the West that you might have missed in the morning papers:

Army suicide rate hits 26-year high: The Army reported that 99 active-duty soldiers killed themselves last year, the highest rate in two decades. More than one out of four soldiers who killed themselves were serving in Afghanistan or Iraq, the AP reported.

Udall, Schaffer race revisited: Congressional Quarterly has a recap of the 2008 Rep. Mark Udall-Bob Schaffer Senate race, arguing it’s a test case of whether the West is becoming more Democratic or is remaining a Republican stronghold.

Sen. Salazar headed to Iraq: The Colorado Democrat will visit the war-torn country next month as part of a congressional delegation, the AP reported. The trip will coincide with a pivotal report to Congress about the war’s progress from Gen. David Petreaus, the chief American commander in Iraq.

Allard’s quest to make pennies cheaper: Congress is considering a bill co-sponsored by Sen. Wayne Allard that would allow the U.S. mint to replace zinc as the manufacturing metal of choice for U.S. pennies. Because of the metal’s soaring price, it costs two cents to produce each one-cent coin, costing the U.S. treasury more than $100 million annually.

–Christa Marshall

CHRISTA MARSHALL: Fresh from a trip to Iraq, Rep. Doug Lamborn delivered a message of progress Tuesday about President Bush’s troop “surge” in the country.

The Colorado Springs Republican is on a whirlwind tour of the Middle East, visiting Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Israel as part of a congressional delegation to the region.

The freshman congressman has been a Bush ally on the war, voting against efforts to condemn the surge of more than 30,000 troops since January.

In a conference call with reporters Tuesday from Kuwait City, Lamborn said he was surprised by the level of improvement in Iraq’s violent Al Anbar province.

The congressman met with Gen. David H. Petraeus in Iraq and predicted the commander would report to Congress on Sept. 15 that the U.S. military has made “satisfactory” progress on all or most benchmarks in Iraq.

Other highlights from the Lamborn’s trip:

• Lamborn lunched in Fallujah with marines from Colorado Springs. He wrote down the words of one Colorado marine, who said the war is not a “lost cause”
• He said U.S. troops told him they were getting enough supplies, although the Iraqi police complained of lack of equipment
• Lamborn said Iran continues to be a troubling force in Iraq, supplying insurgents with deadly mines called IEDs. He urged President Bush to do more to pressure Iran and Syria.
• Baghdad is not making the same level of progress as Al Anbar and the Sunni triangle, Lamborn said. The capital has a troubled mix of Sunnis, Shiites and insurgents fighting for territory.

The congressman’s comments came on a day of bleak news from Iraq. More than 100 people and nine U.S. soldiers died Tuesday during a wave of attacks by extremists across the country, the AP reported.

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reported that Petraeus will likely recommend that U.S. troops pull back from several regions in Iraq, including Al Anbar province.
>> MORE

CHRISTA MARSHALL: Colorado Democrats downplayed an Associated Press story Monday that said a Sen. Hillary Clinton presidential nomination could have a negative impact on close congressional races in 2008.

According to the article, the former first lady’s high unfavorable ratings could influence local races in states with a tradition of swinging Republican in presidential elections, such as those in the Rocky Mountain West.

“Private polling conducted in Colorado, for example, shows that Clinton’s negative rating is 16 percentage points higher than her favorability score,â€? the AP reported.

Clinton also has high negative ratings across the country, prompting Democratic party strategists to worry her presence at the top of the ticket could galvanize GOP voter turnout.

But Rep. Ed Perlmutter said Monday he’s not concerned about Clinton’s potential impact on his own 2008 re-election bid in Colorado’s 7th District.

“Historically in Colorado, voters are independent and pick and choose between the individual candidates,” Perlmutter said.

Colorado Democratic Party Spokesperson Matt Sugar echoed Perlmutter, saying Clinton’s impact would be “negligible” because of the state’s independent streak.

The campaign manager for Rep. Mark Udall’s 2008 Senate campaign, Mike Melanson, added that Colorado voters elected Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar in 2004, the same year they chose President Bush.

Still, a congressman from the West running for re-election told the AP that “Clinton is the Democratic candidate most likely to cost him his seat.�

Amid the constant blog talk about Karl Rove’s departure, we found a Colorado gem.

Charlie Gandy, a former Texas legislator who now owns the Twin Lakes Nordic Lodge in Colorado, apparently broke the story that Rove would be writing a book about his White House experience, the Washington Post reported.

Rove stayed at the lodge last month and confided his post-White House plans to Gandy, just before Post reporter Mary Ann Akers stopped by and reported the incident on her blog “The Sleuth.�

The White House later confirmed that Rove was indeed planning to write a book.

The incident contained much irony, as Gandy lost his Texas seat in the 1980s because of “a GOP strategy to recruit Christian conservative candidates - a strategy masterminded by none other than Karl Rove,� Akers wrote.

No word yet whether the ex-Bush adviser plans to visit the lodge again, although it provides a convenient stop on the way to a frequent Rove speaking venue: the Aspen Institute.

–Christa Marshall

N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson backtracked Friday from his comment in a Democratic presidential forum last night that homosexuality is a “choice.”

In a 360-degree turn, the presidential hopeful said in a statement, “Let me be clear — I do not believe that sexual orientation or gender identity happen by choice.”

“But I’m not a scientist, and the point I was trying to make is that no matter how it happens, we are all equal and should be treated that way under the law,” he said. “That is what I believe, that is what I have spent my career fighting for. I ask that people look at my record and my actions and they will see I have been a true supporter of the LGBT community.”

Those words are very different from Richardsons’s comments at last night’s “Visible Vote ‘08 Presidential Forum,” which focused solely on gay issues and was co-sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, and Logo, a gay-oriented cable TV channel. The event was attended by all the Democratic candidates except Sens. Joe Biden and Christopher Dodd.

When moderater Melissa Etheridge asked Richardson then whether homosexuality is biological, Richardson said, “It’s a choice. â€?

Their exchange went as follows:

MS. ETHERIDGE: Thank you.
Do you think homosexuality is a choice, or is it biological?

GOV. RICHARDSON: It’s a choice. It’s –

MS. ETHERIDGE: I don’t know if you understand the question. (Soft laughter.) Do you think I — a homosexual is born that way, or do you think that around seventh grade we go, “Ooh, I want to be gay”?

GOV. RICHARDSON: Well, I — I’m not a scientist. It’s — you know, I don’t see this as an issue of science or definition.
I see gays and lesbians as people as a matter of human decency. I see it as a matter of love and companionship and people loving each other. You know I don’t like to categorize people. I don’t like to, like, answer definitions like that that, you know, perhaps are grounded in science or something else that I don’t understand.

MS. ETHERIDGE: Well, it’s hard when you are a citizen of a country that tells you that you are making a choice when you were born that way, and your Creator made you that way. And there’s a document that was written 200 years ago that says you are entitled to certain rights that you are not given. How can there be anything other than absolute equal rights for homosexuals?

GOV. RICHARDSON: Well, that’s — that’s always been my view, as I said. As a Hispanic, I grew up with people thinking because of my darker skin and my — you know, I didn’t — I wasn’t fully speaking English at a time, that I was not equal. So I understand that issue of inequality, and so across the board I’ve always felt that every human being desires the same rights, desires the same niche in our society. And you know, I’ve — all my life I’ve striven very hard to deal with the civil rights issue, on immigration issues affecting families. I’ve always held these ideals very high, and my record speaks for it.

The forum came at a critical time for Richardson. A poll released this week showed him gaining traction in Iowa, two days before the state’s straw poll. The University of Iowa reported that Richardson jumped to 4th place in the race, receiving the support of 5.5 percent of likely Democratic voters.

To watch the entire “Visible Vote ‘08 Presidential Forum,” click here.

–Christa Marshall

CHRISTA MARSHALL: For those of you who can’t get enough of Rep. Tom Tancredo’s presidential campaign, there is now visual evidence of the Littleton Republican’s influence in Pakistan.

Yahoo! News is running a photo of the burning effigies of Tancredo, President Bush and Sen. Barack Obama in a crowd of Pakistani demonstrators in front of a sign that says “Dath to Tancredo.�

Protesters in Lahore, Pakistan, chant anti-American slogans in front of the burning effigies of U.S. President George W. Bush, center, Republican Tom Tancredo, left, and U.S. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, right, at a protest rally Sunday. Source: Associated Press (Yahoo! News)

Tancredo sparked unrest in Pakistan this week after saying that the United States should consider bombing Islamic holy sites in Mecca and Medina to fend off a nuclear attack from terrorists. His words reached the chamber of the Pakistani parliament, where lawmakers condemned his remarks.

Obama also came under fire after suggesting the U.S. military should consider invading Pakistan’s border region to battle al-Qaeda fighters.

When asked this week about the Pakistani riots, Tancredo spokesperson Carlos Espinosa (who sent us the photo) said his boss was sticking by his comments, arguing that any presidential candidate should not “take anything off the table” when it comes to fighting terrorism.

“It’s one of the few times you’ll see Bush and Tancredo standing next to each other, ” Espinosa said of the effigy moment.

CHRISTA MARSHALL: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney holds a double-digit lead in the latest Iowa poll of the Republican presidential race, while Rep. Tom Tancredo is beating Sen. John McCain.

Romney was the choice of 26.9 percent of likely Republican caucusgoers in the poll by the University of Iowa, followed by Ex-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani at 11.3 percent. Tancredo jumped to 4th place in the Republican survey, receiving the support of 4.2 percent of likely voters.

That ties the Littleton Republican with Sen. Sam Brownback, and places him just behind the still-undeclared Fred Thompson, who garnered the support of 6.5 percent of likely Republican caucusgoers. >> MORE

It appears that more federal immigration raids are on their way.

The Department of Homeland Security is releasing new rules this week cracking down on employers who hire undocumented workers using false Social Security numbers, the New York Times reported.

Simultaneously, federal officials at ICE plan to step up raids similar to last year’s round up of workers at the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colo.

“We are tough and we are going to be even tougher,â€? Russ Knocke, the spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, said in the article. “There are not going to be any more excuses for employers, and there will be serious consequences for those that choose to blatantly disregard the law.â€?

In the past, employers frequently ignored “no-match” letters from the federal government warning that workers were using false Social Security numbers. Under the new rules, companies will have a fixed amount of time after receiving a warning to fire the workers or risk paying up to $10,000 in fines.

–Christa Marshall

By Christa Marshall – The words of Rep. Tom Tancredo have traveled from a debate stage to the Pakistani parliament.

Lawmakers in Islamabad slammed the Littleton Republican this week after hearing about his recent remarks calling for the bombing of Muslim Holy Sites to deter terrorism, according to the Pakistani Tribune.

“Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afghan Khan Niazi informed the house that the statement of US Republican Presidential hopeful is a serious matter. Tom Tancredo, he said, is mentally ill adding that we have ability to protect the Holy Islamic sites,” the newspaper reported.

In a presidential debate Sunday, Tancredo reiterated that the United States should threaten to attack holy sites in Mecca and Medina to prevent a potential nuclear attack from al-Qaeda.

“I read the national intelligence estimate. I see what (al-Qaeda) is planning. And I’m telling you right now that anybody that would suggest that we should take anything like this off the table in order to deter that kind of event in the United States isn’t fit to be president of the United States,� Tancredo said.

The comments sparked condemnation from several Republican presidential candidates and State Department Spokesperson Sean McCormack, who called Tancredo’s remarks “outrageous� at a Monday press briefing.

On Tuesday, Tancredo spokesman Carlos Espinosa said the congressman was not backing down from his comments.

“Any person running for higher office should not take anything off the table, regardless of the outcome or reaction,” Espinosa said.

Tancredo is not alone in stirring unrest in Pakistan. Sen. Barack Obama also is under fire for suggesting the United States should consider invading the country’s border region to destroy the al-Qaeda leadership.

According to the Washington Post, protestors in Karachi, Pakistan, burned an American flag Monday after hearing of Tancredo’s and Obama’s comments.

Here’s some weekend news that you might have missed:

Holy Sites, Revisited: Rep. Tom Tancredo defended recent comments suggesting that the United States should consider attacking Islamic holy sites to deter terrorism. Appearing at a Republican debate sponsored by ABC News, the Littleton Republican said “he saw no other wayâ€? to prevent a potential nuclear attack by Al Qaeda except by threatening religious sites in Mecca and Medina. The comments sparked a critical reaction from former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who said Tancredo’s idea “made no sense.â€? Tancredo also said it’s not the job of the federal government to provide universal health care and said his biggest mistake was waiting 30 years to “realize Jesus Christ is my personal savior.” For a full debate transcript, visit The New York Times.

A Win for the Roan: Colorado will get more time to review a federal plan for drilling for natural gas atop the Roan Plateau. Late Friday, the Interior Department acquiesced to Sen. Ken Salazar’s request for a 120-day extension to comment on the proposal that has sparked condemnation from environmental groups. As a result, Salazar said he would lift his hold on the nomination of James Caswell to head the Bureau of Land Management.

Another win for the Roan, and renewable energy: The House of Representatives passed a massive energy package that includes a renewable energy standard co-sponsored by Reps. Mark Udall and John Salazar. The provision would require utilities to produce 15 percent of their energy from sources such as wind and solar power. The bill also bans drilling on federal land atop the Roan Plateau. The measure now heads to a conference committee, where it must be reconciled with a recently-passed Senate bill. President Bush has threatened a veto.

By Christa Marshall - As the nation watches the unfolding tragedy in Minnesota, experts are beginning to ask how many other bridges are at risk of collapse.

The Federal Highway Administration has a Web site with some sobering statistics. Of the nation’s roughly 600,000 bridges, 73,694 were considered “structurally deficient” at the end of 2006. That’s about one out of every twelve of the nation’s bridges.

In Colorado, there were 574 “structurally deficient” bridges at the end of 2006, according to the site.

But Transportation Secretary Mary Peters emphasized Thursday that the term doesn’t mean that all of those bridges are unsafe. She said that the designation simply means that a part of the bridge is in need of repair, according to the AP.

The Interstate 35W bridge that collapsed in Minnesota was deemed structurally deficient during an inspection in 2005.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, it will cost $9.4 billion a year for the next two decades to eliminate all bridge deficiencies across the country.

By Christa Marshall – Sen. Ken Salazar said Wednesday he’s “ready to fight� the Interior Department after Secretary Dirk Kempthorne rebuffed his request for more time to review a plan to drill for natural gas atop the Roan Plateau.

“I’m not going to let the federal government run roughshod over the state of Colorado,� the Colorado Democrat said in a conference call with reporters.

Salazar said he received an “unsatisfactory� letter from Kempthorne Tuesday evening that did not provide a detailed answer on whether Colorado would get an additional 90 days to comment on the department’s plans for the plateau.
Those plans would allow for for up to 200 gas wells on public land at the Roan’s peak.

The proposal has sparked outrage from environmentalists and hunters who claim the drilling would disrupt the area’s wildlife. >> MORE