The internecine war in Colorado 5 continues:

Retiring 5th Congressional District Rep. Joel Hefley rejected charges Thursday that his refusal to support Doug Lamborn to succeed him could damage the gubernatorial campaign of Bob Beauprez and other Republicans seeking statewide office.

Hefley scorned attempts by Lamborn's campaign manager to cast him as the villain if Republican voters stay home on Election Day rather than support Lamborn in the heavily Republican 5th Congressional District.

"A lot of people are saying they're going to stay at home, not because of anything I'm doing, but because of the kind of sleazy campaign that Lamborn ran," Hefley said.

In Colorado 7, which is on everyone's short list of the most competitive races in the country, Republican Rick O'Donnell and Democrat Ed Perlmutter are battling over Perlmutter's role in the bankruptcy of a controversial insurance firm. This race is, and will most likely continue to be a dead heat until the end.

Finally, to Colorado 4, where there's a good deal of discussion about Marilyn Musgrave's vulnerability. John touched on the subject in mid-August after a SUSA poll came out showing the race close, and the latest RT Strategies/Constituent Dynamics poll (also IVR, by the way) has Musgrave up 6 points on Paccione but still under 50%. Paccione got some good news yesterday, when the FEC cleared her of charges of improper conduct.