All three candidates running in the 5th Congressional District contest in the Nov. 4 election made a showing at a forum Wednesday, but the incumbent’s appearance was a cardboard performance – literally.

Rep. Doug Lamborn, who said earlier this week he’d like more debate opportunities, sidestepped the forum to work a volunteer phone bank for Republican candidates at a GOP hub in north Colorado Springs.

But a life-size cardboard cutout of Lamborn was at the forum, brought by Democratic candidate Hal Bidlack, who has been carting it around to events to spotlight Lamborn’s absence.

“He has no time to meet his employers during this election, except on Oct. 30,” Bidlack said, referring to the only debate between Lamborn, Bidlack and American Constitution Party candidate Brian Scott.

Asked why Lamborn wouldn’t attend Wednesday’s forum, his campaign manager, Catherine Mortensen, issued a statement: “Congressman Lamborn is committed to a Republican victory in November. He is looking beyond his own race to the bigger picture – victory for John McCain and Bob Schaffer.

“The Congressman and his supporters will be reaching out to thousands of voters tonight asking them to support the real candidates for change – John McCain and Sarah Palin.

The Congressman has already committed to organizing this important effort and to being there to make calls.”

The single debate agreed to by the candidates will be sponsored by the Republican Club of Falcon at 7 p.m. on Oct. 30 at Sand Creek High School, 7005 N. Carefree Circle.

Meanwhile, Lamborn has attended Republican gatherings and met with individuals but bypassed candidate events.

“I’m available on a personal level on a daily basis,” he told The Gazette during an Oct. 13 interview.

At Wednesday’s 90-minute forum, organized by Scott, Scott and Bidlack fielded questions about the Iraq war, the bailout plan, the Patriot Act, taxes and the environment.

Scott, who served in the Army and now runs a government contracting business, said he wouldn’t legislate, if elected, but set up shop in Baghdad to report to voters “what’s going on over there.”

He opposed the bailout because he believes in personal responsibility. “I don’t see a role for government when people have made bad decisions,” Scott said.

He said he opposes allowing gays to serve in combat and favors a quick end to the Iraq war.

Bidlack, too, opposed the bailout plan, saying he doesn’t believe in giving an arsonist another gallon of gas.

He said he backs Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s proposals to cut capital gains taxes on small businesses and freeze foreclosures for 90 days.

Bidlack, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, said he opposes the military’s don’t ask-don’t tell policy because, “A lot of things should not be the government’s business, and who you choose to love is one of those.”

He supports a pull-out from Iraq in 16 months, called Guantanamo Bay “an international embarrassment,” and said Bush has attempted to “eviscerate fundamental constitutional rights.”

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