Bob Schaffer, a former Republican Congressman (1996-2002) from "Mad Cow" Musgrave's 4th Congressional District will likely be facing Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar on the Democratic side in the general election for the U.S. Senate race in Colorado in the wake of Ben Nighthorse Campbell's late decision to retire. Schaffer is best known for his term limits pledge.
Schaffer is conservative lightweight is widely viewed as a "B list" candidate for the Republicans. While Salazar is the best that the Democratic party has to offer.
All other candidates but Mike Miles (a Democrat) have dropped out of the race, and Mike Miles has stated that he will not run in the Democratic primary unless he gets more votes than Ken Salazar in the nominating caucus (despite the fact that only a 30% showing is required to get on the ballot) something that seems unlikely given the mass rush of party leaders to endorse Salazar. Jane Norton was the last woman standing in the "maybe" column (and probably a stronger candidate statewide than Schaffer) but decided not to run.
While Colorado is a Republican leaning state, this race is now a tossup as Ken Salazar won for attorney general by bipartisan majorities and will excite Colorado's Hispanic base, while Bob Scaffer has little to recommend him beyond his party brand and comes from an area more conservative than the state as a whole. It is hard to see what group of cross over voters he could appeal to.