Voters can expect more television and radio ads in coming weeks as the three Republicans in the 5th Congressional District race steer their campaigns into the home stretch for the Aug. 12 primary election.Political experts called the face-off “a true three-way race,” based on Federal Election Commission campaign finance reports filed Tuesday for second-quarter fundraising.While Rep. Doug Lamborn outpaced his two Republican challengers in the quarter and has more money in the bank, his challengers have enough cash to mount effective campaigns, the experts said.”It’s a real contest,” said Bob Loevy, political science professor at Colorado College. “They each have enough money to finance a decent campaign, particularly in a primary against an incumbent.”Ordinarily, you would expect two well-financed candidates, and in this case there are three,” he said. “Although one had to help his own campaign along, most voters aren’t aware of that. They just see the ads.”He said it’s unusual for an incumbent to face viable opposition.”The assumption is they’re so strong, no opposition develops, and they aren’t challenged,” Loevy said. “That hasn’t happened to Lamborn.”Another expert said fundraising numbers indicate Lamborn is vulnerable.”You could argue it’s unusual for an incumbent not to have a more dominant position in fundraising,” said Eric Anderson, a principal with SE2, a Denver-based consulting firm focused on public persuasion, media relations and communication.Establishment endorsements have been split among all three candidates, he noted.”You can’t say one is the big-money candidate who has the major contributors on their side,” he said. “It’s unusual an incumbent wouldn’t have locked that up. It’s a hard-fought race, because there’s a sense this is the one time Lamborn is vulnerable.”He said if political action committee money is subtracted, Crank has raised more money than Lamborn.Of Lamborn’s total, 51 percent has come from PACs, nearly all from out of state. PAC money generally goes to incumbents, Anderson said, because they’re seen as “safer bets.”Ultimately, while money provides an advantage, “They all will be able to get their message out to an extent,” Anderson said.”My sense is,” he added, “that anybody who’s watching TV will see ads for all three of them.”Rayburn’s report shows he spent $16,000 in June on radio and television ads. His single biggest expense was $17,800 on a poll in May.Crank spent $36,000 in June on radio and TV, his single largest expense in the quarter.Lamborn’s report shows no media purchases. His single largest expenditures were three $2,500 payments to a Washington, D.C., political consultant.-CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0238 or pam.zubeck@gazettedev.gazette.com