Outside sources battle to influence Colorado’s CD-3 race

National parties have jumped into the race between Democratic U.S. Rep. John Salazar and Republican challenger Scott Tipton of Cortez.

The national parties were major players in the 2004 election, when Salazar was elected to Congress over Republican Greg Walcher. The National Republican Congressional Committee spent at least $3.6 million that fall to support Walcher, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee contributed at least $1.8 million for Salazar, making it one of the most expensive races in the country.

This year, the NRCC has promised to spend $700,000 to aid Tipton. It dropped $144,000 into ads against Salazar in Western Colorado last week, according to the Federal Election Commission.

On the other side, the DCCC has spent $283,000 in negative ads against Tipton, according to the Sunlight Foundation, which tracks outside spending in congressional races.   – More -