A Gannett News Service article published September 22 in the Fort Collins Coloradoan asserted that 4th District Democratic congressional candidate “Angie Paccione's bid to unseat incumbent Marilyn Musgrave [R-Fort Morgan] is considered a long shot.” However, a separate Coloradoan article published the same day reported that a September 18-20 SurveyUSA poll “shows Musgrave up 46-42 on Paccione -- within the poll's 4.9-point margin of error.”

The Gannett article by reporter Faith Bremner originally was published by Gannett on September 21, the same day the SurveyUSA poll was released. However, the Coloradoan published Bremner's article on September 22. The article stated, “Neither national political party is taking Colorado's 4th Congressional District race for granted this year, even though Democrat Angie Paccione's bid to unseat incumbent Marilyn Musgrave is considered a long shot.” The article went on to report that "[f]or the first time in a long time, the DCCC [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee] sees a chance for its candidate to win the staunchly Republic [sic] district" and that “the DCCC added Paccione to its Red to Blue fundraising program” which “direct[s] donations from reliable Democratic contributors around the country to 42 Democratic candidates' campaigns.” The Gannett article did not mention any previous 4th District polling.

By contrast, the September 22 article by Coloradoan reporter Kevin Darst noted the most recent SurveyUSA poll “shows Musgrave up 46-42 on Paccione -- within the poll's 4.9-point margin of error -- and Reform Party candidate Eric Eidsness with 8 percent. Five percent of the 424 likely voters were undecided.” Darst reported, “A SurveyUSA poll five weeks ago turned up the same results for Musgrave and Paccione.” According to Darst's article, “Thursday's SurveyUSA results are similar to other independent polls, as well as candidate polls. Paccione's campaign released a poll in June 2005 showing her trailing Musgrave 46-40; another Paccione poll in June showed Musgrave up 37-36, with Eidsness getting 4 percent in that poll.” Darst's article further reported that “A poll by RT Strategies, which bills itself as bipartisan, and Constituent Dynamics showed Musgrave up 47-41 but didn't include Eidsness” and that “the Musgrave campaign wouldn't release its own internal polls.”

From Bremner's Gannet News Service article, “National parties will help bankroll Colorado campaigns,” published September 22 in the Coloradoan:

Neither national political party is taking Colorado's 4th Congressional District race for granted this year, even though Democrat Angie Paccione's bid to unseat incumbent Marilyn Musgrave is considered a long shot.

[...]

For the first time in a long time, the DCCC sees a chance for its candidate to win the staunchly Republic [sic] district, which George Bush took in 2004 with 58 percent of the vote. Bush's approval ratings nationwide have been low, although they're rising, and Musgrave had a closer-than-expected race two years ago against Democratic challenger Stan Matsunaka.

Democrats need to win 15 Republican-held seats to gain control of the House.

On Monday, the DCCC added Paccione to its Red to Blue fundraising program, which seeks to replace Republican House incumbents with Democratic challengers. The program will help direct donations from reliable Democratic contributors around the country to 42 Democratic candidates' campaigns. The DCCC has already spent $630,000 on television ads for Paccione. Matsunaka was not included in the campaign two years ago.

[...]

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which analyzes political campaigns around the country, gives Musgrave the edge in the race. However, Musgrave does have a few political handicaps to overcome, Senior Editor Amy Walter said.

In addition to Bush's flagging support among voters, Musgrave is a polarizing figure in her district, Walter said. Voters either love her or hate her, she said.

From Darst's September 22 Coloradoan article, “Rivals gain no ground”:

Attack ads are having little impact in the 4th Congressional District, a new poll suggests.

U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan, continues to lead Democratic challenger Angie Paccione by four percentage points, according to a SurveyUSA poll released Thursday.

The poll, conducted Monday through Wednesday, shows Musgrave up 46-42 on Paccione -- within the poll's 4.9-point margin of error -- and Reform Party candidate Eric Eidsness with 8 percent. Five percent of the 424 likely voters were undecided.

A SurveyUSA poll five weeks ago turned up the same results for Musgrave and Paccione, who in recent weeks went on television with attack ads and were running radio attack ads before that.

[...]

Thursday's SurveyUSA results are similar to other independent polls, as well as candidate polls. Paccione's campaign released a poll in June 2005 showing her trailing Musgrave 46-40; another Paccione poll in June showed Musgrave up 37-36, with Eidsness getting 4 percent in that poll.

A poll by RT Strategies, which bills itself as bipartisan, and Constituent Dynamics showed Musgrave up 47-41 but didn't include Eidsness.

[...]

Musgrave campaign spokesman Shaun Kenney said the collection of polls, all of which show Musgrave ahead, are a good indicator Musgrave has a firm lead and that “people have made up their minds.”

He wouldn't say why the Musgrave campaign wouldn't release its own internal polls.

“We've got our reasons, I guess,” he said.