the rant

Two quick notes from the campaign trail this week.

Colorado: Republican Hypocrisy

Last week we told you about how Colorado Republican Bob Schaffer accepted more than $13,000 in travel and accommodations from a front group for convicted felon and Tom DeLay confidant, Jack Abramoff.

Schaffer then turned around and defended the business practices of sweatshops run by Abramoff's lobbying clients, despite a mountain of evidence against the manufacturers.

To drive home the true scope of this hypocrisy, the DSCC has produced a great new video. We created this video to make sure that each and every Colorado voter knows the truth about Schaffer's shady ties to Jack Abramoff.

Click here to see the latest video about the Colorado Senate race.

Republican Bob Schaffer is tainted by the Jack Abramoff scandal, and he's not fit to serve the great people of Colorado.

The latest polling shows a neck and neck race between Schaffer and Democrat Mark Udall. Udall has earned rave reviews so far in this race for his record of courageous leadership on the war in Iraq and renewable energy issues. We'll be sure to keep you updated as this campaign heats up.

Alaska: Strong Democrat Enters the Race

Second, great news just yesterday from Alaska where Democrat Mark Begich is officially entering the race to make a strong challenger against embattled Republican incumbent Ted Stevens.

As mayor of Anchorage, Begich helped create nearly 10,000 new jobs and eliminated a $33 million city budget deficit. If elected senator, Begich has pledged to restore trust and transparency in our government and to expand the G.I. Bill to give veterans everything they need to earn a college degree.

Scandals have rocked the Republican Party in Alaska. Even Ted Stevens himself is under investigation by the FBI and is going to be extremely vulnerable this cycle. The latest polling already shows a dead heat, even before voters start paying attention and learning all about Stevens' sordid past.