Joel Hefley made an 11th hour plea for his successor Rep. Doug Lamborn to stop his “say anything, do anything” re-election campaign tactics aimed at Hefley’s choice for the office, Jeff Crank.I would like for us to create an atmsophere where we’re not going to put up with that kind of campaigning,” he said. “I may just be dreaming.”He also accused Tom DeLay of playing a role in Lamborn’s campaign.Hefley, who represented the 5th Congressional District for 20 years before retiring two years ago, supports Crank, his former aide, in a three-way race for the Republican nomination that will be decided Tuesday.On Friday, Hefley issued a statement expressing his “utter disgust” for Lamborn’s ads, which allege Crank “lied” in ads about Lamborn and that Crank has made “hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying for earmarks.””Neither charge has any basis in truth,” Hefley said. “Congressman Lamborn knows this.”He accused DeLay of intervening on Lamborn’s behalf when a conservative group wanted to set up a debate and Lamborn declined. DeLay prevented the group from putting Lamborn on the spot, Hefley alleged.Lamborn has refused to debate his opponents.”We don’t need Tom DeLay in Colorado politics,” said Hefley, who now runs a ranch in Oklahoma.DeLay, a House member from Texas, was indicted in 2005 on charges he conspired to violate campaign finance laws. He later resigned.In response to Hefley’s remarks, Lamborn’s spokeswoman Catherine Mortensen said, “We have no idea what he is talking about. They seem to be imagining things.”Mid-day Friday, Crank’s backers hauled a five-foot milk carton through downtown Colorado Springs featuring Lamborn’s picture under the words, “Have you seen this man? Missing. Running from debates….”

MONEY POURING INIn the last five days, Crank has raised $22,790, compared to Lamborn’s $8,500 and Bentley Rayburn’s $6,100. All of Crank’s donations came from the district. Lamborn’s came mostly from out-of-state political action committees, and Rayburn’s from three Texans.

SIGN SQUABBLEA Lamborn supporter made a ruckus this week over the fact Crank didn’t buy a political sign permit. Crank’s campaign said he didn’t need it, because his signs were posted on private property. Crank bought a permit this week anyway.

CASH COUNTSIf money were votes, Mark Waller would defeat Douglas Bruce in House District 15, campaign finance reports show. Waller has raised $43,547.But Bruce says voters should study the source of Waller’s money. At www.douglasbruce.com, voters can see Bruce’s analysis that shows 40 percent of Waller’s donations came from political action committees and 35 percent from lawyers, lobbyists and developers.Bruce doesn’t accept campaign contributions. He’s spent $31,691 of his own money on the race.Meantime, Bruce was rated highest by the Colorado Union of Taxpayers for his opposition to taxes, naming him its Taxpayer Champion. Bruce served his first session in the Statehouse this spring.

MORE MONEYIn the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s race, incumbent John Newsome has raised $37,548, compared to challenger Dan May’s $30,166.

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