Matsunaka sighs as he watches Markey gain on Musgrave

Some years, it’s good to be a Democrat. Some years, not so much. Just ask former Colorado state senator Stan Matsunaka.

“Timing in politics is everything,” he said after Tuesday morning’s Colorado delegate breakfast.

Matsunaka twice ran as the Democratic nominee in the 4th Congressional District, losing to Republican Marilyn Musgrave by 13 points in 2002, and by 6 points in 2004. Though he came up short, Matsunaka is given credit by the party for running hard in the district. And he may have helped lay the groundwork for a Democratic pickup in CD 4 in 2008 — a year of favorable political winds for Democrats.

A poll conducted by Roll Call a few days ago showed Musgrave trailing Democratic challenger Betsy Markey 50 percent to 43 percent. The said 51 percent of respondents had an unfavorable view of the three-term congresswoman, compared to 31 percent who saw her favorably.

Matsunaka said he feels Musgrave has a base of support that won’t go over a threshold of 36 percent to 38 percent — and that voters will flock to Markey once they get to know her.

“Marilyn Musgrave has tied herself to the president, and that’s going to do her in,” Matsunaka said. “She took everybody for granted. She took her Republican base for granted.”

Matsunaka said he wasn’t surprised that, in June, Musgrave signed on as a co-sponsor of constitutional amendments to define marriage as between a man and a woman because that’s her “single issue.”

Matsunaka also said high gas prices were “killing people” in rural parts of the state — typically Musgrave strongholds — and that dissatisfaction with the incumbent might result.

Matsunaka said Markey’s business experience would serve her well in the district and that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Emily’s List would be helping Markey financially.

“Help I didn’t have in my races,” Matsunaka said wistfully.